Who is Cecily Vessey?

Cecily Vessey lives in the U.K. She splits her time between Kennington, London and the Suffolk Coast. She has a BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing from the John Cass. Soon after graduating she decided that drawing was where the focus of her creativity lay and she has worked as an artist ever since. Cecily draws all things architecture-related.

Clients have included; Tower Bridge, The Natural History Museum, Design Museum, Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern and Jo Malone London.

You can see examples from Cecily’s portfolio in the ‘Projects’ page.

‘New ideas come to me when I’m out and about, either pedalling around or walking. I try not to get the tube in London as I like to see the buildings and the views as I travel. I also find travelling to new towns and cities inspiring. Whenever I go somewhere new I try to find a high view point and take in the landscape, I love the variations in something as everyday as a rooftop and seeing all the ways in which it has been interpreted over the years.’

Cecily spent her teenage years in Oxford. It is where she fell in love with architecture. Whilst studying for her A-levels she stumbled upon a book about Ben Nicholson containing the following quote: ‘Ben was the only one who couldn’t draw, a preposterous statement unless we interpret ‘couldn’t draw’ as couldn’t copy’’. This quote played a huge part in giving her the confidence to pursue a career in drawing and is pinned up on her studio wall to this day.

Cecily loves to combine cycling with finding new vistas to draw - she has ridden across Mexico, parts of China, the Outer Hebrides, South West Ireland, from Land’s End to John o'Groats as well as many trips over the British Isles and Europe. Next up is a bike ride through Vietnam and Cambodia. The emphasis always on the slower route with lots of food and sketching stops.

You can view all of Cecily’s latest artwork in the ‘Shop’.

Portrait by Daisy Wingate-Saul