A B O U T
Lydia Crook originally trained as a paper engineer (that's a pop-up book designer with a swish name!) with the ace paper engineer Corina Fletcher. She has since expanded her passion for paper by creating a range of ornate paper cuttings, limited edition prints and greeting cards, and it was here that Lydia's Paper Shop began.
Each design is hand drawn, carefully hand-cut and sometimes painted to create delicate and individual pieces of paper art. Lydia translates some of these designs into silhouettes, which are then hand-screen printed or high quality digitally printed.
Over the last few years she has been selling her cuttings and prints online and in various boutique shops around the UK.
Lydia has also authored and illustrated 4 book titles in collaboration with Ivy Kids publishers, all of which now
sell internationally.
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A L I T T L E B I T M O R E A B O U T L Y D I A . . . .
When were you happiest?
I like to think of myself as a happy
person most of the time. I somehow find something every day (even dull
wet ones) that makes me smile. But if I had to
pin-point just one, I think it would have to be when I was younger –
when the hours in a day would just seem to go on and on and on,
especially in the summer time.
What is your greatest fear?
Heights. Just going up a ladder makes my legs go all wobbly.
What is your earliest memory?
Pushing my pushchair around my parent’s garden with earthworms in it while singing songs from the film 'Oliver' to them.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
There is quite a few actually. Corina
Fletcher would have to be one for teaching me all I know about paper.
David Attenborough for educating and inspiring me on all things wild.
And my Mum and Dad, for letting me try out every after school
activity possible when I was younger.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Putting things off until later.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I was 6 I was dared to run
around a neighbours party, full of grown ups, naked by my sister and her
friend. And I stupidly did it.
What is your most treasured possession?
Original Scruffy (a toy dog that I brought from a jumble sale for 20p when I was younger). He holds a lot of memories for me that I never want to forget.
Where would you like to live?
I like to think that I'm quite a settled kind of person. I
love living by the sea – having that open space on my doorstep inspires me. I like
visiting exotic and cultural places but I think my home will always be
in Sussex.
What would your super power be?
To be able to talk to animals. I think they would have a lot of interesting things
to say.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Procrastination and chocolate malted milk biscuits.
What is your favourite word?
Love. It’s a very inspiring word and emotion.
What do you owe your parents?
A lot more than they think.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
I think I’ve been quite lucky with
this one. Making vats of coleslaws at my first job in a tearoom is
probably the worst it gets.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Being able to explain myself better.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Doing a job that I love.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Comptine d’un autre été:
L’après-midi” by Yann Tiersen. I love solo piano pieces, this one always
seems to stop me in my tracks.
How would you like to be remembered?
Someone who tried her best.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
To be happy in whatever you do, to expect the unexpected, to “just breath” and to K.I.S.S - keep it simple stupid.
Tell us a joke.
Why are pirates pirates? ....... They just arrrrrrrrrrrrr.