Cover Clym Evernden drawing for a collaboration with Acqua di Parma in Milan (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
Clym Evernden drawing for a collaboration with Acqua di Parma in Milan (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
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The artist talks about being taught by the tutor of John Galliano, taking inspiration from Alexander McQueen and his latest work at Carlyle & Co in Hong Kong
You may have come across Clym Evernden’s artworks one way or another even if you’re not an art enthusiast. The British artist, who is known for his whimsical illustrations of cityscapes, people and animals, is one of the most sought-after artists today in the lifestyle and fashion world, having collaborated with a prolific list of brands and clients including Hermès, Diptyque, Rosewood, Massimo Dutti and French stylist Carine Roitfeld, who in 2014 hosted a dinner party in Paris where Evernden illustrated guests such as American models Arizona Muse and Kendall Jenner.
This month, Evernden is flying to Hong Kong for a collaboration with Carlyle & Co. To celebrate the private club’s third anniversary, he will be painting a nearly two-metre-tall mural live in front of party guests. The artist was first commissioned to create an art piece for the club’s opening three years ago; this time, he teases that this new piece will capture the spirit of the club’s community and revisits some of the elements in his initial artwork.
Tatler caught up with Evernden on his visit, career and artistic inspirations.
Above Clym Evernden at work (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
Clym Evernden at work (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
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Tell us how your history with Carlyle & Co inspires your new mural.
It’s really nice to come back and enjoy this celebration and the sense of community that is now established here. The artwork itself is basically a visual of that. I’m capturing a feeling of everyone [and everything] coming together: the glamorous crowd, the music, the fine dining, the cocktail making and the entertaining vibe. We’ll have a crowd of people celebrating at night [against the backdrop of] the Victoria Harbour. As usual, with my work, it will be a combination of realism and slight abstraction. There’s fun, wit and magic about how I portray these elements.
What are your favourite memories of Carlyle & Co and the city of Hong Kong?
Carlyle & Co is an unusual location in terms of how it feels cosy [in the middle of the bustling city centre]. I love that it can feel very social and at the same time if you want to read a book or work, you can.
When in Hong Kong, I love going for a hike or walking at the Peak. I grew up being really interested in nature. But then it’s exciting to know you’re right in the city where there’s the financial district, the shopping districts and the restaurants. It’s that combination of city and nature that I love.
In case you missed it: The beauty of Hong Kong trails, captured by a painter who spends his days hiking
Above Carlyle & Co's membership kit with illustrations by Clym Evernden (Photo: courtesy of Carlyle & Co)
Carlyle & Co's membership kit with illustrations by Clym Evernden (Photo: courtesy of Carlyle & Co)
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How does your previous experience in fashion influence your art today?
I’ve always been interested in fashion. As a teenager, I was inspired by designers like Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. That led me to that path of studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London, which is very focused on drawing. I had a fantastic tutor called Howard Tangye, who taught Galliano himself. It was an exciting place to be. While I was a student, I started doing commissions for magazines. I understood that I could earn money from drawing. Even though what I do now isn’t strictly fashion design, there’s so much that I learnt from that course in terms of building a business, understanding the importance of marketing and public relations.
What made you switch to art?
I had a fashion design job in 2014 and I was planning to move on. That was literally when Instagram was just starting and I joined it at my friend’s recommendation. The social media enabled me to show my work to a wider audience. People started contacting me [for work]. From that point, I had this idea of drawing portraits live at fashion parties or the backstage of shows because I can draw fast; my drawings became a keepsake for guests. Photographers earn money basically doing that [with their cameras]; instead of taking photos, I’m just drawing people. That was a turning point in my business because people have been employing me to do that. I remember being at a party in Paris, where I drew Kendall Jenner before I knew who she was. She Instagrammed it straightaway.
A 2022 Christmas illustration (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
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How have your aesthetics evolved?
There’s still a consistency in how I work, which is my signature loose-ink style: I use a black ink line to create the artwork in a quick, spontaneous way and then add colour. But I’ve also branched out from fashion drawings to a lot of different ways, like working on large mural pieces and a wider breadth of subjects like Rolls Royce cars or Samsung phones.
How do you balance between client requests and your personal aesthetics?
The two are enmeshed. The work I do for myself and for client collaborations are almost one and the same because I love the idea of my work being tied to a brand, launching it or celebrating it. For example, the Diptyque collaboration came about a few years ago because I just happened to decorate a Diptyque box that I had lying around and posted it on social media. The team in Paris saw that and reached out.
Above A collaboration with Diptyque (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
A collaboration with Diptyque (Photo: courtesy of Clym Evernden)
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What is the value of art to you?
I like instant responses and engagements from people, be it when someone sees illustrations that they like on Instagram, or when I create intrigue about the brand for a client. Depending on what’s going on in the world, like during the pandemic, it was really nice to see messages from people saying that my art made them smile.
Future plans?
I would love to do a projection on a building. It’ll be incredible to [choose a skyscraper in Hong Kong] or design a sail or a theatre backdrop.
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Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
