Tess Smith-Roberts draws inspiration from the outdoors
The London-based illustrator heads out to a secluded Unyoked cabin in Suffolk to unwind after a monster month of work.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Tess and I’m a freelance illustrator based in London. I really enjoy drawing food, people and fruit - I also tend to add a silly little smiley face to everything.
How did you get into illustration and art?
I always liked drawing and art, but I wasn't very good at fine art or realistic drawing in school. I wasn’t really sure what to do with my life, until one day my art teacher in sixth form told me what illustration was - and it all just clicked! I then went on to study it at uni and now all I do is draw.
Sounds amazing. So you recently went out to Otis in Suffolk, where was your head at before you left?
I think I had a lot of work on. I’d also been doing a lot because it’s summer; you know like going to the pub a lot, making the most of the sun, just general summer busyness. I had recently come back from Glastonbury too, where I had done a lot of drinking haha, so I was still a bit frazzled! A peaceful, calm break was definitely needed.
Jealous of your Glasto trip! This was your first Unyoked experience, what did you expect? How did that compare with reality?
I expected a cosy cabin surrounded by nature, and that’s what I got! Except it was even better than I had imagined. The cabin was so well made. The huge windows by the bed were a definite highlight. It was sooo nice waking up in the morning and gazing out onto the meadows and trees. So different from my view in London!
The little details of the branded kitchenware, the japanese knives, and labels on the tea/coffee all made it feel so special and well made too. I just loved the design of it all. The recipes and playlists on the website sent over before the stay was such a nice touch. We made sausages on the fire! It was all such a well thought-out experience.
What was the highlight of your experience?
So my favourite day was the Saturday.
We made the banana pancakes from the recipe in our Field Guide, and they were delicious! We lay down in the sun, went for a walk and I did some reading/drawing. Once it started getting cooler, my boyfriend made a fire and we cooked some sausages on it for dinner.
I just really enjoyed just lying on the bed by the window and reading my book, you know. It felt so nice to have time to do “nothing”!
How did you feel when you got back?
Refreshed! It was so nice to have a break from the busyness of London. And while it was also nice to be home, I was also thinking, when can I go back to a cabin?
What would you say to someone thinking of getting Unyoked?
Do it! You won’t regret it! It’s such a lovely, relaxing place to escape the craziness of the city.