At home with fashion illustrator Megan Hess
FASHION illustrator Megan Hess takes her cues from old-world glamour and has styled her house to be kid-friendly but still beautiful.
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WORKING on a 350-page horse manual and designing pizza box covers, London-based Megan Hess was just about give up on her dream of working as a fashion illustrator when the phone rang in the middle of the night.
An American publisher was on the line. She has seen a small project Megan had done for Italian Vogue and wanted her to illustrate the book of a New York writer.
“Suddenly, I was very awake,” she says.
“They wanted me to illustrate Candace Bushnell’s new book.”
Candace Bushnell is the author of the Sex And The City, which has been turned into a TV series and become a global phenomenon.
“I went to New York to illustrate her new book and then the publisher decided to
re-release all her books, so I ended up doing 35 different covers for different territories.”
That association led to more high-end work with Chanel, Dior and Tiffany & Co.
Megan has since relocated to Melbourne with her architect husband Craig Yelland and their children Gwyn, 6, and Will, 4.
The family now live in Port Melbourne in what is a converted church roof space.
“The church had been redone into apartments but the roof was vacant.
“It was a bizarre open space, which was enormous. We gutted it and turned it into a perfect space for our little family.”
Aside from Megan’s studio painted in Tiffany & Co blue from where she also runs her website meganhess.com, the apartment has a parents retreat on one side and a kids area on the other.
“We wanted a home that was beautiful for adults but still kid-friendly.”
Words Catherine Nikas-Boulos
Pictures Chris Groenhout
Chanel No. 5 cushion
I made something similar when I first learnt to sew as a teenager.
I put it on linen back then, and fast track to now, I thought, ‘I can put this design on a proper cushion’. It sits on our bed.
Beethoven bust
I found him in London. It was one of the last things I bought before moving back. I always thought he needed more colour so he’s wearing a Tiffany & Co scarf.
Architectural models
I collect Timothy Richard’s architectural models, which are miniatures of real buildings. I have about 10 of them and two years ago my husband arranged for us to meet the
man himself in his studio in Bath. This is the door of the White House.
Versace plate
As a ritual, I have my toast on this plate in the morning. It’s over the top in design but
I absolutely love it.
Christian Louboutin shoes
They go with everything. They give me extra height, and somehow they’re so comfortable and easy to walk in. They’re my hero shoe.
Family portrait
We had just finished renovating the apartment when we took this photo. We were finally in and enjoying living in the house after a year of renovating.
Montblanc pen
I was asked to do some prints for UNICEF, to be auctioned off. Montblanc was a sponsor and they sent me to New York where they have a bespoke program. When I used it for the first time a little tear ran down my face. It was almost like an extension of my hand.
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