I’m delighted to introduce you to Molly McCammon – a fabulous illustrator and storyteller from Scotland. Hugely inspired by mid-century design and rich colour palettes, Molly’s work is filled with tactility and warmth. Her strong sense of home, and place, and her love of context and design history informs her work. So please read, absorb, admire and enjoy! I’ve included some examples of Molly’s illustrations below, and a more detailed portfolio can be found on her website: www.mollymccammon.com

Could you tell us a bit about yourself, and how you became an artist and a designer?
Like many other artists, I grew up drawing and making. I remember cutting and collaging magazines, writing stories and being my class’s resident “bubble writer”. I enjoyed art classes over anything else and was accepted into art school when I was 17. I always thought I would be a Fine Artist but art school quickly taught me that I enjoyed creating images with narrative qualities, so the illustration department was where I naturally found my place.

I completed my honours degree in Illustration at Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee, Scotland and after falling in love with the work of children’s illustrators like Wolf Erlbruch and Shaun Tan, I went on to study a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.

I owe almost everything to the MA. Although the course was primarily for children’s publishing, I learned invaluable skills in colour theory, composition and storytelling, which I hope show in my work today. I would recommend the course to any creative.

What was your earliest childhood memory of reading or books?
My favourite books as a child were Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. The stories were so rich, full of mystery and interactivity. Best of all though, the illustrations from Brett Helquist were magical. I remember staring at the cover of The Penultimate Peril, devouring every detail, for the duration of a 7-hour car journey. That cover influenced my work more than I will ever understand fully - it ignited the illustrator in me.

What are you reading right now?
I’m a nightmare for reading the same books over and over. I’m currently reading Dolly Alderton’s book Everything I Know About Love for the third time, it’s a real comfort read. The book deals with Dolly’s trials and turbulations with becoming an adult woman and gets to the route of what love really means.

Who or what is your design inspiration right now?
My inspirations change like the wind. I love everything vintage and find myself obsessing over mid-century picturebooks and advertisements. Miroslav Sasek, Bernice Myers, Alain Gree and the Provensen’s have been some of my favourites for a while, and more contemporary influences have come from Virginie Morgand, Malika Favre, Carson Ellis and Leo Espinosa. Something they all have in common is their use of stylised characters and limited colour palettes.

Where do you like to work and why?
My spare bedroom is my make-do studio. There I have my desk, books, scanner, light box and printer. Although, since I started working digitally, I find myself working from my sofa more than I’d like to admit. Our living room has a beautiful, big bay window so the natural lighting is perfect. Sometimes I find my desk is quite daunting, so the sofa tricks my brain into being relaxed and I work best this way.

If you could visit one fictional building, what would it be?
It’s got to be Hogwarts, right?

What was the best book you were ever given as a gift?
My mum gave me a copy of 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. The book changed the way I thought of life and death and how I interact with others in the present.

I also remember getting a copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard when I was about 14. The sophisticated illustration in this book had me hooked, it was probably the first time I realised that illustration wasn’t just for children’s picture-books.

Do you have a favourite book cover?
I think the best book covers are the ones that nail a sense of mystery. I find this is done exceptionally well in the Pelican Original book cover designs, in particular The Organization Man and Self and Others. The cover of Essays Against Everything by Mark Greif is also stunning. These minimalist, abstract and bold designs tell just enough of a story to make me want to read more. I get a lot of inspiration from these.

Where do you feel most at home?
Although I was born and raised in Dundee, Scotland, I find myself most happy when in Cambridge. I spent almost two years there during the MA and I haven’t stopped wanting to be back there since. My happiest memories are laying on the grass next to the river Cam in late summer, watching the punters go by. With a sketchbook, a good novel, a swimsuit and maybe a bottle of wine, I’d quite happily spend the rest of my days there.

Are there any places or buildings from books that have stayed with you or inspired your work?
Wolf Erlbruch’s Duck, Death and the Tulip was actually hugely inspiring to me due to its lack of time and place. The book’s environment is rather empty, which I believe is Erlbruch’s way of showing the space between of life and death. I pull this book out every time I have an illustrator crisis, it’s so beautiful.

I also love Miroslav Sasek’s This is series. He captured places so well, I always feel like I’m where he is. And of course, Alice and Martin Provensen’s Town and Country.

How would you describe your work?
I would describe my illustration work as bold, nostalgic, sophisticated and often minimalist. I love colour and shape, so wherever possible, I like to leave these elements to do most of the work. I am deeply inspired by the simplicity of mid-century design and that continues to be at the forefront of my works.

Finally, can you tell us a bit about your latest work, or plans for the future?
I've recently loved working with Frankie Magazine on some editorial pieces, it’s always a pinch-me moment when I see my illustrations in print. I have some branding-based work in the pipeline, too, which is really exciting. 

My goals for the year are to keep expanding my portfolio for both the literary and editorial space and focus on trying to get work out in the publishing world. Illustrating a book cover would be the dream. I also have lots of my own stories to illustrate and I can’t wait to see them someday on bookshelves and bedside tables.

Instagram snippets | @manderleypress