That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Lucy Claire Dunbar

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

Illustrator and artist Lucy Claire Dunbar joins Gaby for a chat about all things joy! Lucy's illustrations are now SO popular - thanks to one of her super fans, Taylor Swift! She talks to Gaby about her love of drawing, the tough times she's come through and how she just wants to spread love and joy through her art. Her new book, The Book Of Gifts, is such a gorgeous piece of work - and is being compared to 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' by Charlie Mackesy. We hope you enjoy this warm and joyful conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy Claire Dunbar, I've got your book in my hand, and anybody watching this on YouTube is going to be able to see that. Your book is incredible, you're incredible, you know I adore you. I absolutely do. You're very special. But I'm going to start this just by reading a little bit. We may be just a blip in time, but the love... Oh!

Oh my God! Okay, I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll do it. we may be just a blip in time but the love we leave behind will always shine and then you've got this beautiful, beautiful illustration and that's what you're all about you're about making us feel better

I try just I mean your actual story oh you really hurt I've got I don't know I'm going to cry I know it's ridiculous so your actual story is incredible and I don't think and many people know your story

and what you've gone through. So we're going to talk about that. But you have now done drawings, illustrations, for the world's biggest, most well-known, famous people ever in the history of the world. Does that blow your mind, Taylor Swift, the royal family, all of that? What on earth? How did this...

Okay, how does that feel and how did it all start? It feels wild. I don't really... I think I find it hard to, like, comprehend... I just keep drawing, and that's just... Yeah, I guess I don't really think about it in a way of how big it's got. It's really weird. I find it quite peculiar that so many people see what I draw to,

because I do forget that sometimes. But that's nice. I like that. It feels like... Well, I say it all the time on Instagram, but everyone's just... It's like my second family, and they're the most amazing people. in the world and so supportive and I just wouldn't be here without them and I feel like I owe everything to them and the fact that my drawings can help them feels because really my account saved me

yeah um I started it at a very dark time in my life and it was literally what it was like my one foot in front of the other kind of situation I do one drawing a day and that's what kept me going so And lots of people don't know that about you. No, no. So I've been doing it for five years now, but I think the past year is where it kind of took off. And now I'm here. I love that you're here.

But we've met before. We've spoken before. But can we go back to the time when you just didn't know if you could put one foot in front of the other? Because things were not good. They were not good. No. So was it, so where did the sayings come from? Did somebody say something to you and then say,

draw that down because I want to know where that spark to keep that keep going came from. I think if I cry I'm so sorry. No, don't apologize. I've just started by calling. It was kind of my sister. I actually, I don't think she even knows how much I owe to her and like this whole account and everything. I'd reached a point, yeah, kind of where I didn't know where I was going, what I was doing. I just graduated, which I think is a really hard time for people in their early

20s because everyone's asking what you're doing. And you're thinking, I've only just graduated. Like, I don't know where I'm going. And so she just said to me, look, Lucy, if you, you love drawing, just keep doing that and just post it on Instagram and you can maybe earn your pocket money and keep going. And I was going to take a year out because at this point as well, I was also, So it's quite funny when I just dropped this in. But I was also like clinically blind, which had happened because of like how complications with my diabetes. It was kind of like, let's do this for a year

and then see what you want to do in a year's time. So how bad was your sight at that stage when she said to her? I couldn't see pencil on paper. I couldn't read. My friends would sign my, I don't even know if I should say this, but my friends would sign my forms for me at uni and stuff. and I had the most amazing friends at uni who did help me

and they'd read my work and stuff to make sure that I wasn't spelling mistakes everywhere. It was bad. I couldn't cross the road by myself and I couldn't actually, like, where we're sat now, if you didn't tell me you were you, I probably wouldn't. You could see forms but not who it was.

Not like who it was. And I used to literally just, oh, it was awful. But I would walk down the street basically smiling and waving at everyone because I didn't know if I knew that what not. But actually, that's what your books do now.

Oh my word. I feel like I do that now just because I can't actually see it. I like doing it. By the time, it was like, I didn't know. If someone was waving in the street, I'd think they're waving at me. I like that, though.

Just wave at everybody. Yeah, so it was really bad. And my sister, and then this is kind of all going back to how it all began. But my sister said to me after one appointment, and I'd gone in and they basically said there's nothing we can do

we don't know what's up with you we've never seen I think something had happened in my eyes that just meant it looked different to what they'd seen before and I remember leaving and walking into our town centre and bumping into my sister and I just remember thinking this is it she's like a guardian angel because if I hadn't seen her I don't even know what I would have done and she just said to me

this is where I'm going to cry But she said to me there's always hope And yeah Hold my hand Hold my hand It's fine But yeah There's always hope

And I think that's why I want to do with the book It's just like There was a time when I really didn't think There was a future for me So if I can give anyone hope Then that's More than I ever imagined I would do So yeah

What an amazing way to start on the And I'm going to use the word That people don't like but I'm going to, on this extraordinary journey that has taken you from a really dark place where you didn't know if you're going to be able to carry on to back to what I said before, Royal Family and Taylor Swift and all these people

knowing exactly who you are and asking you to do drawings for them. And you have a book out, which I just read out of it, made me cry. It's beautiful, the book of gifts. Greatest Christmas present ever, I think. So when was that? When did you do the first drawing? Did you say five years?

years? Five, yeah, 2019. It was the September before the whole world shut down. So when you did the first drawing, when did it suddenly go into, oh, people are taking notice? Early on, I met some really amazing, I guess you'd call them, influencers on, but they're just like the most amazing people in the world who supported me and just shared my work. and then it was just all kind of word of mouth. But it really took off around the Queen and Paddington. There were a lot of artists took inspiration from that time.

But I did a drawing that kind of just, yeah, took off. And then from there, I feel like it just kept going from there. So looking back now, it is happened for all the right reasons. Do you know, some people, you know, their social media, you know, we were talking just before we came in here about how social media can be a very dark place, but also bring light. And it's all happened for the right reasons that it helped you and it's helping everybody else. And did you, when you started out, did you realise you were going to help so many people? Oh, no. No, my brain still finds it hard.

Yeah. I think if I'd ever thought that way it wouldn't be what it has become, if that makes sense. I never looked at it like a business or in numbers or ever in a million years thought I would do a book. That was not in my...

No, it was just my like... It was my reason to get up in the morning, which I think everyone, sometimes in life you just have to have that one reason whether it's like your dog or... I don't know. Your kids or... Yeah, you know, there's something that keeps you going.

and that was what kept me going. And now, yeah, and now I just feel so, yeah, I feel so lucky. And I wouldn't change anything that happened to me either because I wouldn't be, I often get asked if, like, oh, if you could get rid of diabetes, would you, like, wave the magic wand? But I really wouldn't because it's made me who I am and it's given me, like, the heart that I've got. And I think it, yeah, I think it's really helped me understand people more.

How is your eyesight now? It's good. I think it's great. I mean, compared to what I have. It's not perfect and I can't see as far as the normal person and like I can't see very well in the dark but I can see you. Okay, but you can use a torch. Yeah. Just have exactly. Take a torch everywhere you go. So no, it is good and at the moment it is stable which is amazing. That's fantastic. Okay, let's talk about you. This is what I want to know. When you wake up, in the morning, where do you think, okay, this is the saying for today and I'm going to do the drawing. Does it come from?

Where does it come from? Again, I don't have like a social media plan or like a plan for what I'm going to. No, I'm just talking about it for you. Well, yeah. Forget what you're doing for everybody else, but just where does it come from?

Because you just... It's what I'm going through in my life. That's kind of why every time I post something, it's actually a lot of the time I'm still talking to myself. I'm going through it all with everyone else. So just figuring out life and what's going on in the world

and what's like pulls at my heartstrings. That's what I like to draw. So do you watch news, hear, news, read. How do you? You seem to know exactly what's going on. Sort of before everybody else does. Can you paint a picture of peace in the world? That would be lovely.

I would. I see that. But where does it? Do you just soak up information? You might think I'm a bit woo-woo But I kind of think I think things find me Like I think it's like put in

It gets into my like Little world that my brain is And then that's how I find it Because I don't understand how I see I'm not I don't really watch the news like Purposefully Because I find it very sad

But obviously you get updates from social media And stuff And then just yeah I'm also a very nosy person So I think I just listen to everyone's conversations. I'm like, oh. So do you ever go to a cafe and sit and, I mean, you've got,

so you've got pen and paper now. Yeah, I'm actually really about it doing two things. No, but we might get nothing. Just sit in a cafe and draw. Yeah, that's my, oh, that's my favorite thing in the world today. People watch and like, I'm fascinated by people. I'm fascinated by people's stories. I think everyone has a story to tell.

Yes. drives me mad when somebody says I was sat next to the most boring person I said well you weren't asking the right question no I honestly I think everyone has everyone has that thing that they're so passionate it makes me passionate talking about other people being passionate but like

everyone has their thing they're passionate about and if you find it and start like talking about it with them you'll get the most amazing conversation if it's like cheese or they love flowers or it can be anything they love the weather I mean as British people love the weather But, you know, I literally. But I just think, yeah, everyone's got a story and everyone's got like a battle they've won.

And I just really, I love people. See, that's how you're able to tap into our psyche. You know exactly what we're thinking. Can we just talk about the Taylor Swift thing? Oh, that was a funny. What? Okay, talk to me about that. Oh, my gosh.

Yeah, that was cool. Again, something it dropped into our... So I like to draw what's going on in the world as we said, but Taylor Swift is just like the queen. That's after doing the queen. You've done the queen

and the prince and princess of Wales. No, Taylor Swift. That's why I wanted to go to Taylor Swift. I knew we'd have this reaction. Okay. Talk me through this. So yeah, and I used to want to be a fashion illustrator. So I love fashion and like

her costumes and that side of things. So I've been drawing for a while kind of her outfits and like, I feel like I sound like a bit odd. But anyway, her outfits and like things that have happened. And then an email dropped into our inbox. And all it said was Wembley XTS. I nearly fell off my chest. Oh my gosh. And then Wembley Stadium reached out to do a drawing to like thank her and celebrate all her shows that she'd done.

and then I got to go to the show and take my sister, which was the... So I've talked about my older sister, my younger sister as well. She is the most amazing person in the world, and I wouldn't have got through life without her. So to be able to take her with me was like such a gift for me to be able to do for her.

So yeah, it was... That was a cool time. And then you put the picture up of Taylor Swift and Taylor Swift has your picture. Yeah. I mean that's pretty cool Taylor Swift has There's also her

One of her dancers Cam Saunders All her people are the most Like the kindest most amazing people in the world And I could shout from the rooftops About how amazing they all are It's just good people like sharing love And then the Prince and Princess of Wales

Yes Yeah So was that just another email Dropping into your book That was P and P That was that was actually just again

they've just been through so much so they did a drawing just out of love and also like I think it's kind of me processing just what is going on in the world that sort of situation is they see it through social media and then that's how it gets there it's a bit wild no but you want to make people feel better

don't you? Yeah yeah that really is all I if it's just one person feels better from seeing a drawing then that's that is enough and that's like mission accomplished. So when you were a child and you said you love fashion and everything, if you wind back to when you were eight years old, would this be part of the plan? Oh no, I wanted to be a vet.

I wanted to be a vet and then I also wanted to be like, I think I wanted to be an astronaut at one point. I love that. I was told I wasn't clever enough. But you've done pictures of astronauts. Well, yeah, yeah. I don't think, I really don't think, my dad was an artist, and I didn't think I was good enough to follow that career path.

So I knew I loved fashion, so I actually think I maybe thought I'd work in magazines or something. But I always loved drawing, so I kept doing that on the side. And then I guess I never let go of the drawing. Okay, let's talk about the book. So I knew about that because you and I've met, and we now know each other in real life and we kept in contact.

So I knew about it. So when it came out, I was screaming. But I remember you telling me, you went, okay, no, don't tell anyone. I didn't think I was allowed to tell you. No, no. I didn't tell anybody. I didn't say a word.

I was so bad. I didn't say a word. But how does it feel now? I mean, this is real. This is the book. This is out. It feels, it's a weird, feeling actually. It feels like I've got a bit of whiplash.

Oh really? That's interesting. I think just like I can't believe where I am and how happy I am and I can't believe I got through the dark time. Like and that for me it feels like all of the dark times like led this is what I was going my words. I should be on a podcast. No, no. No. But like all the bad times have led to this and that's the good that's come from the bad times. And I like to think I used to hate it and people said everything's happening for a reason or like you'll get through this and

realize how much stronger you are because of it. But it really is true. And for anyone who is in the darkest of times right now, like there will be a time when one day you realize it's not quite as dark. Like there's that glimmer and then I'd like to think it just keeps growing. And this just feels like the good, the good from the dark. That's really important. That's a really important thing to barsohn because like you said in every you know physically and mentally you're in the darkest place that you can imagine and now do you just see light sorry to be as trite as that but is it just you just see light now pretty yeah I my friends laugh me because I say I'm always like oh I've had the best day but like every single day is a best day for me and if I wake up and get the chance to

live out a day then I just think I've won already So, yeah. What do they all make? What are your sisters and what does the family and what do you have friends make of this? I don't think anyone knows how I've got here. Really? Actually, that's really nice. That's what you want.

Oh, yeah. You don't want them going, oh, look at them. Oh, gosh, no, no. Do they take the piss? I think, yeah, I think that's what sisters are supposed to do. I think they just think like, why does anyone care what Lucy's drawing or saying? Not in a mean way or anything, but as siblings do. Um, yeah. Also, I'm just like, I am really such a donut, so it's a wonder I get through life.

So I think they're just like, oh my gosh. Draw yourself as a donut. So all of these, all of these sayings and all of this is all completely from you. Well, some of them, I guess, will be from like, you know, well known. I'm trying to, I don't know off the top of my head which ones, but like they're sometimes well known. I don't know. My ducks are absolutely not in a row. I don't even know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a pigeon.

So some will be ones I've heard, and I just absolutely adore. But, yeah, it's basically just Lucy's thoughts on paper, which I don't know if people should be reading. No, they should. Everybody should. And listen, I've got no money in this. There's no reason for me to say this, but this is the book that everybody should be giving and getting for Christmas. I mean, it is, and it's got the perfect title. But I love this because this is obviously called Reasons to Be Joyful. There is so much joy ahead.

I hope you take a moment to be proud of how far you've come. That's obviously a message to yourself as well. This is wonderful. Congratulations on the book. Now, what we're going to do is we're going to give you five minutes. We'd love to see what you're going to draw. A few minutes, we'll draw something and then we'll come back with our extra nugget of joy. Lucy, you are a real problem.

precious being and I absolutely adore you thank you for being on thank you for having me