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A pastel drawing of a solitary blue figure standing in a hazy, atmospheric landscape. The background consists of diagonal strokes of pale yellow and light blue.

A traditional “hatching” technique helps Georgette Smith achieve her distinctive sketchy style

Somerset’s idyllic countryside inspires the illustrator’s serene, textured drawings.

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Date
5 August 2022

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Drawn to yellowish, peachy hues, with elements of blue and purple, illustrator Georgette Smith has a penchant for creating work that depicts slow living and the “quietest moments” of the day: with lounging cats, early morning bed scenes and dips in lakes. This focus is rooted in her experience growing up in Somerset’s serene countryside, a place she sees as simultaneously “relaxed” and “isolating”, and where she still lives to this day. “I think my drawings can feel nostalgic, tapping into a familiar feeling, like a reminder of a certain summer,” Georgette says.

If you’re wondering how Georgette achieves her distinctive style, it’s through a process called “hatching”. Using mostly traditional wax and oil pastels, the illustrator layers small lines to create her textured effect, a style which many fans have told her looks like falling rain. If we could suggest spending time with just one of Georgette’s pieces, it would be Hidden House – her lines give the impression of a mid-summer thunderstorm, while the piece overall showcases all of the defining facets of her irresistible body of work.

A pastel drawing of a small white house floating in a hazy, blue atmosphere. The building is surrounded by diagonal streaks of blue and yellow, creating a sense of movement or rain.
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Georgette Smith: Hidden House (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

An illustration of two figures embracing in a close hug. They are rendered in soft, textured strokes of blue, pink and yellow.
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Georgette Smith: 50% Digital (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

A pastel drawing of a person sleeping, their face partially obscured and resting on a white pillow. A dark blue cat-like shape curls beside them against a peach-coloured background.
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Georgette Smith: Bed Peace (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

An illustration of a fluffy white cat lying in a field of long grass. The scene is rendered in soft, textured strokes of green, blue and yellow.
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Georgette Smith: July 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

A pastel drawing of people ice skating on a pale blue rink. The figures are rendered as soft, blurred shapes in shades of pink, red and blue.
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Georgette Smith: Christmas 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

A pastel drawing of two people seen from behind, sitting together against a textured green background. One person has long dark hair tied in a braid, while the other has a shorter dark bob.
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Georgette Smith: Hayfever Season (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

A painting of two figures facing each other, surrounded by swirling blue brushstrokes. The figures are rendered in soft pink and peach tones, appearing to float within a circular vortex.
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Georgette Smith: Swim Circles (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2020)

A pastel drawing across two pages of a sketchbook. Four figures stand on a white ground against a backdrop of textured blue and sandy yellow.
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Georgette Smith: October 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

A pastel drawing of a small white house with a dark roof, nestled among autumnal trees. The landscape is rendered in expressive, scribbled strokes of red, orange and purple.
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Georgette Smith: November 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

A pastel drawing of a simple house rendered in shades of bright blue. Small, rectangular windows in a contrasting peach tone are scattered across the facade.
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Georgette Smith: March 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: May 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

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Olivia (she/her) is associate editor of the website, overseeing the day-to-day editorial projects as well as Nicer Tuesdays events. She joined the It’s Nice That team in 2021. ofh@itsnicethat.com

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