(Interview) Natasha Durley brings more of the natural world to the art store – Samsung Global Newsroom

The natural world has inspired countless songs, photographs, films and other works of art. Illustrator Natasha Durley is also inspired by nature and what started as scribbles during her day job has turned into so much more. Natasha now works with brands around the world, having been commissioned for murals, homewares, stationery, clothing, toys and even game applications.

Natasha Durley is an illustrator based in Bournemouth, UK. She specializes in creating vibrant and detailed illustrations using a combination of digital and traditional techniques. Natasha’s work is often inspired by her love of the outdoors and her passion for animals and nature.

Durley’s works particularly focus on the various textures, shapes and vibrant colors found in nature. From there, she illustrates creative and colorful landscapes that are currently available to viewers not only on puzzles, pillows and books, but now also on The Frame for display around the home.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Natasha to talk about how she finds inspiration in the natural world and how her work translates into digital signage such as The Frame.

From call center to creation

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your career as an artist? What piqued your interest in illustration?

After school I took a few years to travel and work. I ended up working in a call center but practiced sketching between calls, dreaming of a more creative career. Luckily I took the plunge and eventually went to Bournemouth University of the Arts to study illustration. The rest is history!

Q: Your work is filled with vibrant colors, combines elements of nature and animals, and emphasizes textures. Where do you find the inspiration to create such unique illustrations?

I’ve always been fascinated by nature, so watching documentaries and reading articles or books about weird creatures and plants is a constant source of inspiration. I even follow a few biologists on social media.

I collect texture inspiration from walks – I take photos of bark, rust or any surface that interests me. Working with color is very intuitive. I like to collect reference images just for their color palettes. But in the end, I enjoy the meditative practice of just playing around with colors to see what works for me.

Q: Are there any advantages to displaying art digitally on a screen with regards to colors, textures or other factors?

Although I create my textures and paper cut shapes by hand, my final illustrations are digital. The great thing about presenting in this format is that viewers see all the colors and textures as I originally created them.

Partner with the art store to amplify the illustrations

Q: What led you to partner with the Art Store?

I knew right away that I wanted to be part of the Art Store. Not only is my work being introduced to new audiences, but I love that the work can be seen in high definition and on such a grand scale on The Frame. My work contains a lot of detail and texture that can sometimes be lost when viewed on a smaller screen like a phone.

Q: What impact has the partnership with Samsung had on your career?

Working with Samsung has been a dream! I opened my Sunny Beast online store around the same time I started the partnership with Samsung, and it helped me a lot in introducing myself to new customers. It’s one of the reasons I decided to take time out to do some more personal work, because connecting with consumers has been so fun. I often get emails and DMs from people showing me my artwork on their Frame TVs!

Q: By partnering with the Art Store, you were able to promote biodiversity with SUGi, which you are passionate about. How did this materialize?

Contemporary NAVA¹ kindly asked me if I would like to contribute to an Art Store collection they were organizing in partnership with SUGi.² They were composing a selection of illustrations focused on biodiversity, and since my work is mostly focused on celebrating the natural world, I couldn’t say no. Giving back to what inspires my work is also essential to me, and I’m always looking for ways to donate to conservation projects. The partnership would allow part of the revenue to go directly to the regeneration of nature in urban areas, so the whole project was a perfect fit!

Q: Are there any works of art that you would recommend consumers view on The Frame? What are your three favorite pieces? Please give us a very brief explanation of each.

Gobi Desert: When we purchased our Frame TV and checked out what my artwork looked like, we were blown away by how beautiful this artwork looked. It’s hard to explain, but it looks alive. You could almost step into the scene!

volcanoes: One of my most popular prints and looks great on The Frame if you like bold colors, texture and shape.

For the love of plants: For me, this symbolizes the beginning of my whole career as an illustrator because it was my diploma centerpiece, created more than ten years ago! This works well on The Frame because although it looks like a soothing pastel landscape from a distance, you’ll see more detailed scenes and stories if you look a little closer.

The Next Wave of Illustrated Art

Q: How have you seen the integration of technology into the art space changing the way people consume art? Have there been any changes in the way your art is consumed?

People mostly clashed with my work on the products my illustrations ended up on – children’s books, puzzles, bedding, etc. People are recognizing my work more and more on social media and online space now, so there is a change.

Q: What will the future of illustrated art look like as technology becomes more integrated into the space?

Traditionally, illustration was about creating art for a commercial client. However, with the increased reach of technology and new possibilities like the Art Store, I see a lot of new opportunities for illustrators to work on both commercial and direct-to-consumer projects.

To see more artwork by Natasha Durley, head to the Samsung Art Store in The Frame.

¹ NAVA Contemporary is an online art gallery featuring curated artwork by fascinating artists and a consultancy offering art consultancy services. Created in 2017 by Nicole Archibeque and Valérie Altahawi, two professionals with 30 years of experience in the art world, they were forced to create an accessible environment that promotes discovery and dialogue around contemporary art.
² SUGi is a global platform entirely dedicated to building biodiversity, restoring ecosystems and reconnecting people to nature through the creation of ultra-dense and biodiverse forests of native species primarily in urban areas.