Where is your desk / workspace?

It’s in my flat, in the south side of Glasgow – I have to start thinking of getting a studio at some point soon, but so far I’ve managed to avoid it!

Where is your desk from?

Ikea… I tried really hard to find a second hand, or vintage desk that I liked and that was a practical size, but they were all too small, and my budget was limited so Ikea had its wicked way with me.

What pictures/objects do you like to have around you for inspiration and reference?

I’ve got moodboards for new designs and ranges that I’m working on, bits of old drawings and designs that I want to take forward, bits of other people’s work that I find inspiring, and photos and images that I want to draw from… What else? A really interesting book about jukeboxes, with lots of great bits of colour and pattern in it, and also the 1960s Scrap Book, which has lots of amazing photos of products and brands from the 60’s. Also a great desktop calendar, which was a Christmas present from my lovely aunt. It features a different fabulous handbag from the 20th century on each page.

Is that a cacti collection we see?

Yes, a slightly neglected collection that I have somehow adopted from my husband, Tom – they are incredibly sharp and prickly, so I probably don’t look after them the way I should, and they really get in the way of me opening the window! Although I have to say that they do occasionally cheer me up when I look at them.

Do you have any specific stationery, notebooks, pencils you like to keep handy?

I would hate to be without my art pen, which is a fountain-style pen with an ink cartridge inside it – and I always like to have a collection of black markers to hand for drawing. I do have some nice moleskin notebooks, but I’m really bad at remembering to use them and most of the time I usually end up scribbling notes on bits of scrap paper. When it comes to drawing and designing I use regular white printer paper because it tends to scan more clearly into the computer than nice arty paper, with textured surface.

Do you have a view from your desk?

Yes, I can see out into the back courts of the tenements on our block so I can see what everyone has got on their washing lines, and sometimes see some very cute dogs and children doing silly things. Last week me and my cousin Katrina (who works with me, and is my right hand woman) had a hilarious five minutes watching a wee girl out there helping her mum take in the washing with a pair of pink pants on her head.

A favourite mug?

I do have lots of mugs that I love and some are very old and even quite chipped. I know you’ll think I’m biased but I do love my own range of mugs, and especially the Creamola Foam one. They’re just lovely, big, fine bone china mugs and I really enjoy using them – I do like to have a big cup of tea. Right now Liquorice and Peppermint tea is my favourite.

What’s on your computer screen?

My drawing of a russian doll, which is currently printed on a coloured tote bag. I use Photoshop to tweak the drawings that I do by hand and I use Illustrator to put together repeat patterns and work out print placements on products etc. But I always start with drawing by hand because I like the beautiful quality of line and the speed of working that you can only get through drawing on paper.

What are you working on now / what’s coming up?

We’re working a new range of greetings cards; foil printed and letter pressed on an antique press which is very exciting. We also just launched a new range of premium bags, aprons and tea towels in some bold new designs at Scotland’s Trade Fair last month.  We have just finished our first batch of foil printed teacake cushions, and should have some art prints in the range by Christmas time too.  I’ve started to work on a new range for next year with a completely new direction which harks back to my degree show work from 2008, and I’ve just been asked to take part in an exciting project to mark the opening of the Riverside Museum in 2011, where 20 Scottish artists and celebrities have been asked to customise a skateboard each…. and many more things in the pipeline, we’re busy busy busy.

See Gillian’s collection of work here.