Shop in London
After a brief glimpse into the New York acting scene confirmed it wasn’t for her, Helen Bullock returned to the UK and quickly immersed herself in illustration.
Shortly thereafter, she was offered a place at Central Saint Martins to study fashion printing. What followed was a natural affinity for bold and abstract illustrations that have drawn the power of big brands like Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren, to name a few.
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
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Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
Lulu Guinness x Helen Bullock
And now the talented artist has lent her skills to UK accessory brand Lulu Guinness for an upcoming trio of tote bags that launches April 15th.
But that’s not all. As part of our second Shop London event, Bullock is holding a one-off drawing course especially for Evening Standard readers. Don’t tell us we’re not good to you (you can tune in below).
What you will need for the class:
- Three sheets of paper – either A3 or A4
- A mixture of colored felt-tip pens, pencils, crayons, or oils that you have lying around
- scissors
- glue
We caught up with Bullock to chat about everything that’s small, local, and London.
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What part of London do you call home?
I’ve stayed in Dalston for the past 12 years, it feels very much like home!
What are your independent businesses in your neighborhood?
The Dusty Knuckle for a cinnamon roll addiction, Dalston Stationers for a lot of things – I miss it a lot and I’m looking forward to the reopening, a café on De Beauvoir Square, which in my opinion is called Bread & Butter, has the best coffee, Evin or Brunswick East for Brunch and The Jolly Butcher for dinner – I could go on and on!
Which independent brands are you buying from this summer?
What is the best gift you have ever given or received?
Wow, that’s tough … I was lucky and there were many! A 80s clown costume from a theater company, an original Madge Gill ink drawing, a perfume making class on 4160 Tuesdays which is the best idea as you can make your own signature perfume and recreate it once it’s done So yes, a gift for life! And the most lifesaving gift that really got me through this lockdown was a heated blanket (unlike an electric blanket), without which I just couldn’t have survived. Thanks Daniel!
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What’s the best thing you’ve ever done in London?
Well I guess it’s not specific to London but I was on vacation in the Highlands and we were in the middle of nowhere, I fell in love with the area (and the Highland Cattle) and was very confident that I could live there . … until I got back to London and went to a club until five in the morning that night, then the next day I went to watch my boyfriend at a Vogue ball. I realized that I was absolutely not ready to leave London.
How do you treat yourself
I am very generous when it comes to treating myself! Sometimes it’s an extravagant gesture like a holiday, but sometimes it’s a bag of minstrels and a home pedicure that starts with putting my feet in a saucepan! My friend Laura taught me that. I thought if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me. But yes! Anything can feel like a treat when you turn it into an event.
What are your favorite London hotspots that you will return to as soon as possible?
The West Reservoir – I booked my session and am both excited and scared. It’s getting freezing! The Ladies Pond is once sunnier. I have an endless list of evenings planned (on my mind!), But I think the first thing I’ll do is head into town and have a gallery day. I’m going to the Gees Bend Quiltmakers exhibition at the Alison Jaques Gallery, the Museum of Everything, and Bernard Jacobson. And cafes – I’m really looking forward to sitting in a cafe again.
Best kept London secret?
I am really worried that I forgot all of them! But for the sake of nostalgia I would mention Le QuecumBar in Battersea. I haven’t been there in years but I’m on the mailing list and every time I get an email I think I absolutely have to go back. You are guaranteed to have a great evening.
What do you love most about the London shopping scene?
The variety, it gives you access to absolutely every type of shopping experience you could want.
What lessons will you learn from lockdown in normal life?
Shopping only once a week not only saves you money, but also doesn’t waste groceries! Through this lesson, I finally felt like an adult. Walking is also great! Hopefully, for the occasional break from the pub, I’ll walk for miles with friends (there are some deeper and more meaningful ones, of course, but they will undoubtedly feel a little mundane).
