Glasgow-based designer Lisa Donati makes cards, prints and gifts inspired by strong geometric forms and showcasing a real soft spot for all things cycling.
Her products are made from 100% recycled board with vegetable-based inks. She can often be spotted zipping through the city streets by bike with her latest deliveries. Here Lisa shares why cycling is such an integral part of her life and work.
Why is cycling a theme you are drawn to for your art?
I've been a commuter cyclist all my life. A couple of years ago I moved to the west end of Glasgow and the short bursts in and around town didn't quite fill the void of my previous 15 miles a day. I bought a handsome road bike and began getting out on much longer rides when I could. This was an epiphany and ignited a new passion which I began translating through my art.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I'm inspired by all aspects of life through the champions of minimal architecture and design married with the colourful personalities of the cycling world, such as Peter Sagan and the late Marco Pantani. But, most of all, by my daily observations of cyclists and bike culture in Glasgow.
Describe the style for your work.
Sleek minimal prints and fun, tongue-in-cheek cards.
Which of your pieces is most popular?
Among the prints it's the Tour de France. The minimal profile of the white bike against the yellow of the leaders' jersey. For my cards, it's the world champion and "team recovery" which lead the field.
The former, I imagine, is gifted with affectionate irony and latter, well, it would appear there are a lot of injured cyclists who need a little cheering up.
Do you have a personal favourite and why?
LEJOG - Land's End to John o' Groats - because it's a beautifully subtle route marking but also a constant reminder of a goal I wish to achieve some day, the logistics of which constantly whir around my grey matter.
If you could see one of your prints hanging on anyone's wall, who would it be and why?
Marianne Vos. She is currently blazing a trail in the sport; the woman is unstoppable and hugely inspiring.
How did your own passion for cycling begin?
I always rode around the neighbourhood as a child but became more passionate in my early twenties. This was a period which coincided with me starting to commute daily from Milngavie to Glasgow and with the evening highlights of the Tour de France on Channel 4.
I began watching this with my late father who, being Italian, would be cheering on the Italian greats. I was immediately drawn to it and loved the exciting climbers like Claudio Chiappucci and Marco Pantani.
I have remained an avid fan of the mountain stages. I recall being on a girls holiday back then and while they lounged by the pool I kept nipping into the hotel to catch the TV coverage.
You are a former member of Glasgow Roller Girls - how do eight wheels compare to two?
I previously used my bike for getting to training and would still be on eight wheels had I more time to facilitate the heavy training schedule of the roller girls. Unfortunately, family and business commitments meant I couldn't do it all.
I sometimes sneak down to Kelvingrove skate park in the very early hours for a wheech on my skates before the rest of Glasgow wakes up. Taking to the roads on two wheels has opened up a wealth of new adventures which I'm looking forward to tapping into as I build up my strength.
Describe your cycling style?
A climber. I would say it's similar to my running style: I'm not fast or very good, but I keep plodding away. I'm a fan of the hill and don't feel I've been on a proper ride unless I include one.
I love the Crow Road not least because enjoy the the ride up and beyond it. I'm as confident as I'm familiar with those particular roads. I also have a natural rhythm on the hills which in over 20 years of cycling I don't seem to have ever found on the flat.
Do you have more cycling designs in the pipeline for your range?
Yes, I'd look at Paris-Roubaix and to revisit some designs I have been working on inspired by Madonna del Ghisallo, the patron saint of cycling.
Not many people have heard of her or the shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo in Italy which contains a small cycling museum with photos and artefacts from the sport. There also burns an eternal flame for cyclists who have died.
One particularly notable artefact is the crumpled bicycle that Fabio Casartelli, a native of the region, rode on the day that he died in a crash in the Tour de France.
Madonna del Ghisallo - the hill - was made part of the Giro di Lombardia race and has often featured in the Giro d'Italia as well. I start work on these designs next week to enable a pre-season launch.
Lisa Donati's cards cost £2.50 and prints start from £19.99. Visit lisadonati.co
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