MY STORY
Hello xx
My name is Lily Adele van Lennep. Former child, aspiring adult, forever artist.
You have no idea how much your support means to me, so thank you for stopping by.
Belief
My aim in life is to create things that will give my clients a brief moment of emotional relief: be it nostalgia, inspiration, awe, or tranquillity. I believe that the way we decorate our homes is a reflection of who we are – our stories, our journey, our passions – and I see my pieces as a way in which to express this.
Background
You could say my story started when I was shipped off to boarding school in South Africa. I spent my formative years under the rainbow nation’s glorious skies, and it was here that my interest in the natural world began to bloom. My calling to add beauty to this world, left me no other option but to pursue a career in the arts. So I decided to move back to England to study Art & Design at Leeds College of Art. After graduating, I spent a few years working for an interior designer in London, but the idea of creative freedom soon became far too tantalising to resist.
Beginning
A short yet influential stint working as a florist, gave me daily access to the most exquisite Indian ribbons. I would get home from work at 7 in the evening and use my spare time to play with my secret hoard of saree off-cuts. Bird's began appearing on small glass gift frames, left over from a Christmas fair and before I knew it, I was accepting commissions from customers in the shop. However the real crunch point came when a serious illness landed me in hospital for a few months, and whilst devastating at the time, one could say a phoenix rose from the ashes. I had a blinding realisation that life was short, and I promised myself there and then that I’d never work behind a counter, or computer ever again. And so, from my hospital bed I set to work, planning the launch of Lily Adele.
Dream
I’m a big believer that you should trust your intuition and go with your gut. By 2018 my leap into the unknown had paid off and I’d set myself up as a freelance artist, juggling commissions and solo creations for clients across the globe. Within this first year I’d exhibited my work at the luxury department store Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, London for the summer of 2019. I launched an exhibition and managed to sell my entire collection. I then went on to accept commissions from clients as far afield as the USA, Thailand, several European countries, and back where it all began: South Africa.
Present
I’ve been fortunate enough to now work on my wall art full time from my studio in the beautiful county of Lincolnshire, collaborating regularly with designers and private clients. My aim with Lily Adele is to help you create a space in which it’s enjoyable to simply exist. I see my textile prints as having the same effect in a house as a map, photo, or plant: an object tied to nature and memory that reminds you of the world outside your window.
Future
I have so many exciting plans on the horizon; this journey never ceases to amaze me. In the meantime, whether you want a statement print that’s huge and full of colour; something that will make a guest say ‘wow', or a smaller, more subtle piece that will sit in a quiet corner to be chanced upon as if by accident, I hope you find something here. And if not, please get in touch with me to see if I can help. My only hope is that my art might form one small part of your beautiful home.
Have any questions?
