We are so pleased to have discovered Sophie Ward and be stocking her amazing prints in our shop.
Sophie has an amazing career history and as first jobs go, drawing witty fashion portraits onto T-shirts for Henry Holland is a good way to start, which is exactly what illustrator Sophie Ward did. Her tutor put her in touch with the stylist for Holland’s show and the rest is history.
The following year Sophie graduated and Selfridges chose her as one of 25 talents to watch, giving her free reign on her own window display and an in-store life drawing class.
Sophie’s own T-Shirt collection was launched with LA label Blood is the New Black. She later collaborated on the monsters project with Richie Culver, Coco Sumner and Adele and in 2011 she was featured by Elle Magazine as one of their female role models of the future.
After becoming a mother in 2012 Sophie read the children’s book ‘Oh the Places We’ll Go’. She subsequently shifted her focus towards text-based artworks. These early pieces acted as private reminders to herself to roll with life’s punches, later as they gained more recognition the artworks became public service broadcasts for the soul, promoting balance and sisterhood. Ultimately exploring the existential anxiety felt by women today – from the masks we employ, to finding acceptance within – by taking traditionally feminine, aesthetics and reclaiming them in her unique style.
The change in direction and a return to painting brought about her first ever solo show held at House of Vans, a collaboration with Topshop for their catwalk show accompanied by an in-store customising event over LFW and an on-going relationship with East End Prints. Sophie’s prints and cards can now be seen in the Turner Contemporary, Habitat, Oliver Bonas, French Connection and Urban Outfitters. Sophie's new collection couldn't be more inline with our ethos here at Southwood Living. This is a partnership we feel really proud of and we hope you love Sophie's work as much as we do!