What do you do? I’m an illustrator with
a love of kitsch, colour and nostalgia.
When did you start? I had a pretty
imaginative and crafty childhood
growing up in rural New Zealand. My
family lived on a farm with a rainforest,
bubbling streams and volcanic crevices.
The older kids in the area used to take
off on adventures outside all day, but
because I was too young, my mum
would set me up with a lot of drawing,
sewing and craft activities. What’s one
thing we should know about you? I also
love to tap dance! I have a long-held
secret dream to start an all-female
tap troupe. Greatest achievement so
far? I was really happy when I started
my online store a couple of years
ago, and got my first sale! I couldn’t
believe someone actually wanted to buy
something I’d made. And the biggest
challenges? All the aspects of learning
how to start a business from scratch,
from finding suppliers to negotiating
fees and learning how to use accounting
software. I’m not naturally good at this
stuff, so it was a big learning curve in
the beginning. Who do you look up to?
At five-foot-two (and a half!), I look up
to almost everyone. What did your high
school counsellor suggest you should
do? At the end of year 12 we all had
to take a career aptitude quiz with the
counsellor, and my result came back
as funeral director... So I guess that
could be my back-up plan? Best piece
of advice you’ve received? To always be
yourself and not worry too much about
what other people might think of your
work. If you were to make a piece that
everyone in the world liked, it would
have to be the most boring piece of art
in the world. What’s your next goal?
I’m planning on taking some classes in
textile design and ceramics this year.
I’m excited to try out some new ways
of working! What does winning a Good
Stuff award mean to you? It really
means a lot to have someone like
Jeremy appreciate my work. It gives
me that extra bit of confidence to keep
pursuing creative dreams. What do
your parents think of what you do?
A few years ago when I was feeling a
bit discouraged, Mum told me it was
nice to see me taking after my dad’s
mum Ethel, who was an artist and
jeweller. She reminded me that my
grandmother was born in a time when
there weren’t as many opportunities for
women, and that I should try to focus
more of my energy on what I love doing.
Where can we see your work? Online at
cassurquhart.com.Art + illustration judge Jeremy
Wortsman says: Cassandra’s
reimagining of Expo ’88 feels personal
on many levels – not only because
of the photos that inspired it, but the
sweetness and sense of nostalgia she’s
managed to imbue in the works to make
it feel familiar, and also a bit weird.Photo Bri Hammond
PRESENTED BY
SQUARESPACE CASSANDRA
URQUHART