Meet the designer: Hope Rookyard

I first came across Hope after putting a call out online for an illustrator that I could work with to design some greetings cards for a new business venture I had. She sounded like she could be a 'good fit' so I checked out her artwork (cue mounting excitement) and then immediately arranged an initial call to get to know each other.

After chatting for over an hour late one Winter evening, I realised I'd found someone as passionate for what we're building at Olivia's Little Joys as me! The rest, as they say, is history... 

Keep reading to get to know our first designer and wonderful ray of sunshine, Hope Rookyard. 

Hi Hope, tell us about you...

My name’s Hope! I’m an illustrator, creative for a small digital marketing agency, and a CSW (Communication Support Worker) for a local BSL Courses company. 

I live by the sea and down the road from the South Downs. I love being outside, exploring new places, coffee, sweet treats and last but not least my Nan. When I’m in a good mood you can’t stop me waffling on, and when I’m in a bad mood, give me food and a lay down and I’m sure I’ll be good to go soon!

Balance is extremely important to me, which is why I have fallen into wearing three different hats. I find life a real juggle, and it’s great when work and life can work harmoniously together. I’m a very creative person and feel sad if I don’t draw or write, and I enjoy working with glorious people who feel like sunshine. 

Thank you for that lovely introduction. We'd love to know more about your journey to becoming an illustrator.

I’m one of those annoying people that says “I walked out of the womb with a paint brush in my hand” - but it’s true! I’ve painted, drawn, collaged, pasteled - you name it - since I can remember. I LOVE creating. It brings me so much joy. 

I went to uni back in 2015 and studied Magazine Journalism. It made sense because:

1. It tied together my love for creativity and writing. 

2. A teacher at my school said not to study anything too creative because I’d “just end up being a teacher in that subject” and I’m not sure why this put me off because I had some amazing teachers.

3. I loved magazines.

But I did 2 weeks in London with a magazine (it was exactly as you’d expect - Devil Wears Prada, eat your heart out bebe) and it put me off. I didn’t want to move away from my Nan and Grandad in West Sussex, so I moved back home and felt a bit lost. 

I didn’t really get back into drawing until my last year of uni where I did a gaming magazine for my final major project, and in lockdown (failed job after failed job) I bought myself an iPad and downloaded Procreate. The rest is quite literally history! It’s a lot bumpier than that, but if I was to tell you each and every granular detail, you’d want to go make yourself a cuppa, and you might even nod off.

Let's get into your art. How would you describe your illustrative style, and where does your inspiration come from?

It’s a bit messy, not perfect and very colourful! I’ve stopped trying to be super precise, and just go with it. I’m not a very precise person, I hate measuring things (which is why I leave certain DIY up to my husband Jamie, and adopt the role of creative director). 

My inspiration comes largely from whats around me. The people I love. The animals I’ve loved. My family whippet Rox was a big inspiration to me. Sometimes it’s something as simple as food or packaging I’d seen that day. 

My latest self-project has lots of random drawings in, and I’ve absolutely LOVED letting myself just draw.

Your artwork is a beautiful explosion of colour. Tell us about your love of colour and how you approach choosing which colours to work with. 

I’d be lying if I said I started my colourful drawing journey with a plan. I’d just dive head first in and hope for the best. But now I tend to look at what colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel, and fill in the gaps. If we have pink and green, try and find a blue or orange or yellow tone that works with them. Or completely the opposite - collect a few tones of the same colour, and whack a bright random one in there. There’s theory in there somewhere, I just don’t think I use it (whoops!)...

Do you work in silence or do you listen to music? If you listen to music, what are you listening to?

I actually really struggle with silence! I have to have a TV Series on (Jane the Virgin has been on repeat since 2017ish), but we cycle through the Office (the American one), Schitts Creek, Stath Lets Flats and a few others. I’m a real comfort watcher, and I can listen knowing exactly what’s going on.

I normally write with music and draw with a series, but on my recent holiday I drew while flying, and finished a cow at 30,000 feet in the air! It was quite nice to have a little hustle and bustle going on in the background. 

Okay, let's talk about your first collection with Olivia's Little Joys. Can you walk us through each of your designs in the collection? How did you approach the design/what was the design process and what was the inspiration behind each design? 

When Rosie explained what she wanted for the cards, some of the ideas just instantly popped into my head fully formed, with a little tweaking needed. Other times I needed to sketch and re-sketch out ideas before I knew where they were going. 

I always start with the messiest sketch, then colour block and finally add in the details. It’s also good to sleep on designs as fresh eyes can do wonders. 

'BunBun' (Olivia's favourite teddy bear) was at the heart of a lot of our designs - it was so lovely to include something so personal to Rosie and her family in there. But I also think each and every one had a cosy, family feel to it.

We read with our parents and children, we gather round cakes, we attend sports days, we potter around in the garden, we get the matches out when there’s a power cut (maybe not now, but we definitely got the tea lights out when I was little!) They all have that family feel to them that I love.

What is your favourite piece in the first Olivia’s Little Joys X Hope Rookyard collection, and why?

The three variants with the animals all gathered round the cake took me back to simpler times. When celebrations were just cake and the people you loved in one room. It gave me real 90s nostalgia and comfort. I got to be all-in creative with it!

When designing this collection, what was the most important thing for you to keep in mind during the process?

Not to overcomplicate or over-design it! Sometimes simple is more effective, but I do love chaos every now and then. 

A few of your designs in this collection feature animals. What do you love most about animals, and why do you tend to feature them in your work? 

Animals are one of my favourite things to draw! They have such varying personalities and I often compare them to people. They look like funny little furry people. I just love them!

As an adoptee yourself, what do you hope your collection will bring to special families like Olivia’s that will be buying your designs?

I hope it helps people feel seen and appreciated.

I want children to know how loved they are, and I want those people in their journey to know how blooming wonderful they are! My Nan and Grandad were (and are) my parents through and through.

Sometimes it didn’t feel enough getting them cards with Nan or Grandad on them because they were so much more than that (grandparents are fab though obviously!!) and I’d end up buying them Mum and Dad cards if I felt as though the other cards didn’t fit. 

If you were to design a second collection with Olivia’s Little Joys, what themes, designs or messaging do you think you’d like to work on next?

I think the messaging for me would be around love. You are loved. It’s simple, but it’s so important.

Christmas is another big one and there’s some more niché areas like court dates that are important to families like mine and yours, but not so widely considered that cards are readily available. I think the ideas could be endless.

How do you hope people will feel when they see your collection? 

I hope it feels like a hug. A joyful squeeze that makes them realise they’re not alone.

Hope's top tips on writing a greeting card to an adopted child. 

I think just remember it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. If you know that adopted child, speak from the heart and remember to treat them normally. I couldn’t stand feeling different growing up. I was treated like Nan and Grandad’s child by most people, but there were times in school where I’d be made to feel different.

I’m a very open person. I’m very comfortable about my situation (I was fostered from birth and then adopted at the age of 2) and I’m eternally grateful to have had the upbringing I have had. But for some children, it is more tumultuous. So it’s just about being mindful and sensitive, but remembering that everyone just wants to feel loved.