When we approached Alice Lee about doing our spring window display, we of course expected great things, however she has completely surpassed all expectations! The installation, titled ‘Frame’, will be with us over spring, so be sure to come and have a look. To create the piece Alice took inspiration from Norwich market and the architecture of The Garnet. ‘There were a couple of things I wanted to try…going upwards with automation movement and to capture the pigeons regularly swooping over the market square. The market is one of my favourite places in the city. It’s grassroots, international and nature all co-existing in harmony.’

Alice with her work titled ‘Frame’ at The Garnet Stores

We caught up with Alice to learn more about her and her work-

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Alice, I draw birds using a geometric, graphic approach and run workshops to engage communities with wildlife through art. I love birds because of how they connect us not only to nature but to memory, thoughts and how we process things. I have a BA in Graphic Design/Animation and MA in Curation, both from Norwich University of the Arts where I now do some lecturing on the Illustration course. I also work behind the scenes for the clothes stores Dogfish/Catfish/Sevenwolves.

WHAT MADE YOU SET UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

The business side of things happened organically from me just producing work and people asking to buy it. It’s not something I had set out to do and, to be honest, it’s the part of my practice that I struggle with the most as the promotion, admin and finance aspects are quite draining. It feels great that people enjoy the work and want to have it in their homes though so that’s the balance.

As for setting out in the direction I’m going, that comes from a place of trying to prove myself to myself, if that makes sense! I wasn’t a great student towards the end of my undergrad, I was too preoccupied with trying to be an adult. I neglected my coursework and didn’t do as well as I should have. My tutor at the time had a lot of faith in me (and still does) so the drive to get drawing again came from her and my guilt for being a bit of a let-down during my degree. In fact, after a 10-year break from drawing, I bumped into her outside The Playhouse and on hearing that I wasn’t doing anything creative, she asked me if I'd like to illustrate some poems for an event for National Poetry Week she was organising. I was really happy with the geometric look of what I produced and that was I guess that was the start of the way I work now. Thank you Suzie Hanna!

I rely heavily on circumstance, chance and seeing how those things unfold (this drives my mum absolutely nuts, but it’s just the way I am haha) and I’ve been very fortunate to have been offered opportunities along the way that have allowed me the freedom to develop my practice. Moving from drawing in 2D to the 3D work felt like a natural way for me to get back to my animation roots so that’s what I’m currently building on. I don’t have an agenda really, just want to enjoy learning and creating in a way that feels authentic to me.

WHO MAKES UP YOUR TEAM?

I am my team. I do like to collaborate wherever possible as I need the accountability to stop me from drifting.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

Creatively, I have a couple of things lined up that I’m excited about. In the autumn I’m doing a stint on the Moosey Residency programme which will be super interesting in terms of a different way of working for me, sharing the same space with a couple of other artists. I’m also about to start a new project with Norfolk Wildlife Trust and it’s not about birds. Shocking, I know. I can’t reveal it yet but it is connected.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE AREA YOU LIVE IN?

The accessibility and being able to do things or be somewhere in 10 minutes or so. I moved to Norwich from London where at times it feels like such a mission to get from A to B. I don’t know if I answered that question correctly… my second favourite pub (after The Garnet of course) is two minutes walk from my house too.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND

My perfect weekend is not to have a plan :)

Follow Alice on Instragram @parallelpoint and be sure to come and see her amazing installation at The Garnet Stores over the spring!

Buy Alice’s colouring book in store and online! - https://www.thegarnet.co.uk/shop/flock-alice-lee-colouring-book

Get to know...Alice Lee