Warwick artist brings bold designs, self-belief and colour to the town
Comedy at the Castle, held at Warwick Castle, is the largest open-air comedy festival in the Midlands.
This year's event, which took place at the end of May, was its biggest yet, with a standout line-up featuring comedians such as Seann Walsh, Josh Pugh, Laura Smyth and Adam Rowe.
For Warwick-based artist Hattie Human, the event held special meaning.
Having grown up in the town and even having worked at the castle in the past, Hattie's recent collaboration with the festival brought her creative journey full circle.
Hattie said, "I've got a soft spot for the castle, having grown up around here, how can you not?"
"I've always loved the castle, it has always had a soft spot for it in my heart.
"When Comedy at the Castle first launched, I fell in love with it.
"I thought it was just a brilliant idea.
It was something that was missing from the area, which we needed, bringing everyone together in a different kind of context."
After reaching out to the organisers on Instagram, Hattie secured a partnership this year, collaborating with the castle to create bespoke merchandise for the event.
Hattie said: "Getting to work with them meant a lot because it was in that setting that I love and I've grown up with.
"The belief that they had in me and the kind of support, you know, they trusted my design style and how I work to kind of just come up with something rather than being directed - that trust that they had in me was really amazing."
Observing her work in such a historic space and watching people wear it was a "surreal" moment: "Seeing my bold style in such a historical setting was a little bit strange, but the support and the love and the comments I got from people were really what I needed.
"Having those moments where other people are believing in you and being so nice about your stuff is really nice."
Hattie's creative journey began early.
Inspired by a love of art from a young age, she always knew it was the path she wanted to follow.
"I really fell in love with the pop-up movements and art in the '60s, which really informed my style moving forward."
Her studies at Coventry University, where she took a course in illustration and graphics, helped her to focus her style, particularly towards illustration rather than more traditional art.
But her flair for bold, expressive design was evident long before university.
"It all comes from this one topic that we had to do within schoolwork, where we had to pick and design a playing card series, and I picked mine based on Lichtenstein [an American pop artist prominent in the 1960's] to do a big diamond ring, like the romantic kind of comic strips that he used to do," she said.
"That's where I think I really fell in love with doing that kind of style.
"Doing that playing card, in that style, I just loved it, and it's something that I can still really visualise doing.
"It may have been the starting point of really cementing myself in that kind of field."
As well as making a visual impact, Hattie's art is rooted in self-expression and positivity, themes she has developed over time through personal experience.
"I very much love promoting positivity and a really healthy mindset, so I suppose that's naturally formed over time into more of what I want to promote and what good I can get from my artwork.
"I can be quite unconfident.
"So that's why I try to promote confidence in my work, to benefit others because I know what it's like to not be like that."
Much of her inspiration comes from colour.
Colour combinations, especially those found in retro packaging and design, often ignite her creativity, and Warwick itself also plays a role in her work.
"I love going around antique shops and things like that, where you've got old packaging, the colour combinations they used to use and fonts have always been of interest, and they definitely come through in my pieces.
"There are a couple of shops across Warwick that I am always in and have a little potter around in and visit to get insights into what can be used and see if I can bring that into the modern day a little bit."
Hattie's Instagram handle, the Violet Eclectic, encapsulates her style and holds a deep personal and creative significance.
"It's a bit of an odd one," she said.
"The 'Violet' part is from my grandmother's middle name, she was like my absolute idol."
"She was someone who believed in me and encouraged me to do everything possible from day dot, so that's a bit of a homage to her, and I just really wanted to kind of remember her in that way."
The second half of her creative name reflects her stylistic variety.
"I just went with the 'eclectic' part because my art is so all over the place and kindly applied to different things. It didn't feel right to kind of narrow me down to one style."
This flexibility is a core part of her identity.
"I usually say I'm a creative more than an illustrator.
"I used to do a lot more graphic work, but I don't do so much now.
"The eclectic part kind of sums me up in that I'm just a little bit of lots of things merged together, I don't really fit into one style.
"It's kind of all over the place at times, and it can be applied to different things."
Her adaptability means she's now turning her attention to the world of theatre – another lifelong passion.
"I absolutely adore theatre, so I am currently working with a few local companies to apply my style to various elements of design," she explained.
"I love bringing my design element and my love to other elements as well, so the eclectic thing is very true.
"Theatre is a dream of mine to be more involved in, so I'm hoping I can get involved in bigger and better things, as things come across."
Hattie is currently working with The Attic Theatre in Stratford, helping to design sets for three upcoming shows: 'The Complete Jane Austen Collection (Sort of),' 'The Wizard of Oz' showing in August and 'Little Women' also showing in August, as well as this year's pantomime.
She is also passionate about giving back, and her work with the national homelessness charity Crisis has been a proud moment.
"I loved working with Crisis because it felt like I was doing a lot of good for people, and it's a big focus of what I want to do."
Looking forward, Hattie is excited to be collaborating with Warwick Castle for next year's Comedy at the Castle.
You can view Hattie's work on her Instagram.
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