Poppaea Bicknell, BA (Hons)

Poppaea Bicknell is a multi-disciplinary artist, costume designer and fine art photographer based in London, UK. Her interest in all things creative began at a young age, thanks to her parents ~ Treld Pelkey Bicknell, a children’s book author, publisher and artist, and Julian Bicknell, an architect ~ who immersed her in art, design, culture, travel and storytelling throughout her childhood.

At A-Level, Poppaea chose to study creative subjects exclusively, taking courses in ‘Fashion & Textiles’ and ‘Art & Design’. During a gap year she did work experience in the costume departments of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square. She went on to take a BA (Hons) Degree in ‘Costume Design for the Performing Arts’ at the London College of Fashion (UAL) where her passion for creating characters and couture costumes was fully realised.

In the years after university, Poppaea worked in the independent film industry, as a designer and producer, on a number of award-winning shorts and features ~ eventually going on to found The Springhead Film Company with her husband, screenwriter/director, James Webber. It was while working in film, that she discovered a new talent for digital photography and Photoshop, as she often worked as stills photographer and graphic designer on the various films that Springhead produced.

It was discovering photography, and the work of other fine art photographers, that led Poppaea to the idea of combining her costume-design skills, with the art of digital photography, to create a window into her own universe of lavishly costumed fantasy characters. Inspired by everything from ancient myth and legend, to modern-day films and TV, Poppaea’s work reflects all that she is passionate about ~ the natural world, historical costume and culture. Music, video games, fashion and costume designers, fantasy artists and photographers have all influenced her work over the years. Poppaea’s aim for her artwork is to create empowerment through escapism, for those, like her, who need a touch of magic in their lives from time to time…