At Lucy & Yak, collaborating with artists has been part of our story since 2017. We love nothing more than finding talent from all over the world and using our platform to uplift other creative voices and share that with you, our community. Our latest limited edition artist collection does exactly that and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to the brilliant mind behind it: Brooke Hornsby (she/her). 

Based in Newcastle, Brooke is a hand-poked tattoo artist and illustrator whose work is instantly recognisable for featuring playful, character-led designs which are bursting with personality. From colourful characters to weird and wonderful animals, tasty-looking food, and just the silliness of everyday moments, Brooke’s art invites you into a world that feels how every day should: full of colour and not taking it all too seriously. 

‘What I love most about my work is seeing how my designs can bring so much joy. People saying a piece I’ve created has made their day is a feeling that never gets old. I really hope they give everyone a brief escape from the stresses and negativity of everyday life, just as they do for me.’

At the heart of Brooke’s inspiration is her beloved dog, Bella, who is often the model for all of Brooke’s long-dog drawings. Bella always helps to bring a little bit of humour and charm to her work (because we all know that nothing is more joyful than our pets!) 

‘I’m fascinated by the idea of taking everyday things that might normally go unnoticed and turning them into playful, characterful designs. Fruit stickers are a perfect example: normally, people wouldn’t give them a second thought but once they were arranged in bright, repeating patterns with my smiley faces, they suddenly take on a unique character and become something more interesting to look at.’ 

Brooke’s creative practice doesn’t stop at illustration. As a tattoo artist, her designs are carried through to skin, creating pieces that are just as lively and expressive as her drawings. Brooke developed a love for hand-poked tattooing during lockdown, during which time she focused on building up her portfolio which led to an apprenticeship at Evergreen Studio. From there, Brooke went on to work at Wildwood, a cosy and welcoming studio nestled in the heart of Newcastle, where she works now. You’ll also often find her selling her work at local markets, connecting directly with her community. 

‘Both of the designs in this collection were initially created as tattoo flash. I love all of the intricate patterns, textures and shapes of bugs and find them very therapeutic to draw and at the same time I started thinking that they would translate really nicely onto skin. The fruit stickers are more silly and have their own charisma, something I also thought could work really well as tattoos.’

This collection celebrates everything we love about Brooke’s work: it’s fun, bursting with character, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.