Artist Interview: Aimée Uğur
Q&A with the contributors from our latest issue.
The first proof copies of Hinterland Issue 16 have arrived back from the printers, so we thought it the perfect opportunity to catch up with artist Aimée Uğur to chat about the beautiful cover she painted for our Journeys special.
Aimée Uğur is a self-taught artist and designer based in Cambridge with an MA in Modern and Contemporary Writing from the University of East Anglia. Embracing both traditional and digital mediums, her work features a variety of literary-themed projects, including book covers, illustrations, and portrait and landscape artworks. You can find her portfolio here and on Instagram. She is the cover artist for Issue 16.
Can you tell us a little about your creative practice?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, but my professional experience spans just over five years and I’m delighted to have completed a wide range of commissions from portraits to cover artworks over this time.
I like to maintain a balance between using traditional mediums, such as colour pencils and watercolours, and creating digital art, as I find that a flexible working process can lead to fresh and unexpected outcomes. That said, I do enjoy using a tablet, as the creative freedom is unmatched. Though some ideas don't translate well digitally, which is when I’ll sketch and paint, often layering different media.
I’ve always loved Jill Barklem’s magical world-building in the Brambly Hedge stories and Ul de Rico’s breathtaking Rainbow Goblins series — literally a feast for the eyes! I’m fascinated by how these artists interpret the natural world through spectacular compositions, colours and, of course, wonderful storytelling.
Recent discovery you can’t keep quiet about
The literary podcast Across the Pond, hosted by Lori Feathers and Sam Jordison. Sam is the co-director of the Norwich-based publisher, Galley Beggar Press, alongside Eloise Miller. I’ve also been loving their 'Galley Buddy’ subscription programme — for just a few pounds per month you receive beautiful limited-edition titles. I’ve yet to read a book published by Galley Beggar that hasn’t been a strikingly powerful and transformative read.
Words to live by
Just go for it! What if it all works out?
Tell us something about yourself that surprises people…
Aside from studying art at A-level, I haven’t had any formal training. My style and skills have developed over the years through careful practise and study. That, and I have Turkish heritage on my father’s side and speak Turkish fluently.
In a few words, what inspired the cover art for this issue?
The cover was inspired by the migration of storks over the Princes' Islands and the beautiful sunsets in Istanbul. I was lucky enough to see this spectacular event, which happens twice a year, last August.
Issue 16 is available to order over at our webstore now, or in good bookshops.