Natalia Bagniewska’s work is playful, colourful and a little folky – influenced, she’ll tell you, by Polish mid-century film posters, Hockney, Matisse and trips to food markets. When we were designing our gift cards, her style felt like an immediate fit for what Kip is about.
So we sent her to stay at the Lakeside Hut at the Lodge in Essex, one of our most-loved waterside cabins, and asked her to draw from the experience. The illustrations on our Kip gift cards came out of that stay – we caught up afterwards to find out more about her process.
Meet the artist.
Tell us about yourself – how did you get started as an illustrator?
I retrained as a graphic designer about eight years ago – I always thought I had something like design and art in me, but hadn’t studied it at university. I always loved to draw and was naturally attracted to briefs involving illustration once I had retrained, and I haven’t looked back since. Working with creative people, the flexibility, interpreting briefs and turning them into something playful -there’s so much I love about what I do.
Who or what inspires you?
So much! Artists like Hockney, Matisse, Picasso and Betty Woodman. Polish graphic design and mid-century film posters from Poland play a huge role in my creativity, as do children’s books and movies. Nature is endlessly inspiring, as is travel – that’s why working with Kip was such a natural collaboration. I also love fruit and vegetables; I find going to food markets endlessly inspiring.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Playful, colourful, joyous, a little folky and often naive.
What appealed to you about Kip’s ethos? How important do you find it to escape into nature?
Getting away and spending time in a new environment – especially one so grounded and surrounded by nature – is incredibly inspiring and invigorating. I love Kip for this reason, and the beautiful interiors and attention to detail help me really unwind and get into the creative headspace needed to make good work.
The inspiration.
You stayed at the Huts at the Lodge in Essex – one of our most-loved waterside stays. How was your trip?
The stay was magical. I felt completely cocooned in nature, which I loved. Being by the lake and going for an icy swim, then jumping in the sauna afterwards – such a treat. And the interiors of the cabin were so thoughtful and sweet.
Did your stay help inform the design? What did you want to capture?
Definitely! I really wanted to capture that magic – it felt to me like the cabin and the area around it was almost sparkling and glowing. I really wanted to somehow capture that feeling in the illustrations.
Which Kip hideaway would you most like to visit next?
It would be hard to choose – each one is so special and caters to different needs. I love being in the forest and any kind of outdoor bathing, so perhaps the cabins at Swallowtail Hill.
A Kip Gift Card gives someone the freedom to plan their own escape – a romantic weekend, a family adventure, or a quiet solo retreat. Starting from £25, usable towards any hideaway in the Kip collection.
