SPOTLIGHT on fashion-favourite illustrator Angelica Hicks

Artist Angelica Hicks’s witty illustrations have a score of celebrity fans. By Laura Silverman

WHO? The illustrator daughter of fashion designer Allegra Hicks and architect Ashley Hicks (second cousin of the Prince of Wales), Angelica’s art and society credentials are hard to beat. The 24-year-old has recently graduated from University College London and has already been commissioned by Tory Burch, had her work printed in Elle and been championed on Instagram by supermodels Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. A LIFE IN PICTURES Instead of buying presents for relatives, Angelica was encouraged to draw them pictures. As a student, she took up drawing again to escape long hours of studying, posting her pictures on Instagram (@angelicahicks), where she now has more than 25,000 followers. Her watercolour and ink illustrations are visual puns on fashion and pop culture, from Leo Decaf-rio (Leonardo DiCaprio on a coffee cup) to Poochy for Pucci (a poodle with a Pucci-style print). While contributing to design magazine Cabana in her final year, its editor asked Angelica to illustrate place cards for a dinner – and her career was born. Angelica, who grew up in London’s Chelsea, now keeps on top of her commissions from her New York base. TRUMP CARDS Angelica’s illustrated playing cards are influenced by games of canasta with her grandmother, Lady Pamela Hicks (the Queen’s former lady-in-waiting). ‘She has a pack with large numbers and suits, which she calls her “old-people cards”,’ says Angelica. ‘I love them because they’re so easy to use.’ Angelica’s hand-drawn cards feature her tongue-in-cheek wit. The King of Spades clasps garden spades; the Queen of Hearts has hearts for eyes, and the Joker is a clown with an orange wig. WHAT’S NEXT? Brand Aid*, a book of Angelica’s illustrations, is due to be published in February next year.

Angelica’s playing cards are available to buy at yoox.com