Graduates 2010: Milly Freeman

Today’s graduate, Milly Freeman was born in Hackney, east London, before moving to Nancledra, a small village between St Ives and Penzance in Cornwall where she grew up. The decision to study illustration came while studying foundation at Falmouth and attending the visiting lectures for the MA in Authorial Illustration. From there Milly applied to Brighton and has spent the last three years there.

Aside from design she likes reading, swimming, cycling, watching BBCi player and being a tourist, often finding inspiration for her work along the way.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I used to dig holes in the garden to find old bottles and thought I wanted to be an archeologist but someone told me that archeologists spend days digging with toothbrushes, that didn’t suit me. As a teenager I was a keen surfer and qualified as a surf instructor, however after a stormy summer I decided it was too chilly a profession for me.

In reflection, how bad was your work in the first year?

Very bad, but I can see it was the beginning of the way I like to work now. I still like a book and badge, but the rest is in the recycling!

If you could show a piece of your folio to one person, what piece would you choose, and who would you show it to?

I would show the Paradise Word Birds to David Attenborough as I admire his documentaries.

If you had your own studio/business, who would you employ/share it with and why?

Friendly people and a good cook! I would like to make a recipe book so maybe they could give me some recipes.

If you’ve got any left, what will you spend the last of your student loan on?

I have a dream of cycling in Holland as I have heard its flat, but I don’t have that much student loan left, so probably just food.

Where will we find you in 12 months?

I’m not sure yet, which is exciting! I’d like to write and illustrate a childrens book. There are also some placements I’d like to do and hopefully I’ll be continuing to use letterpress and screen-printing.