London-based milliner, Awon Golding and I got to know each other through The Grand National dining event last year, where I was drawing the guests in her fabulous hats.

Awon's hats are fun, youthful and colourful and each piece is painstakingly handcrafted, incorporating traditional materials and modern techniques. I'm not the only one who loves her creations; her hats are stocked in the prestigious halls of London's Liberty and Fortnum & Mason and was even recently worn by fashion-goddess Lady Gaga.

I visited Awon's atelier in Bow, where her team were busy crafting, surrounded by a gallimaufry of feathers, sequins and fabrics. it was everything that I hoped for. A true crafting heaven.

Awon explained how the inspiration for her s/s collection, came from the famous book, The Birds of America, taking colour combinations from her favourite birds, especially that pink flamingo, and developing a range around coloured feathers.

She also described her process of using contemporary tools and materials, like spray paint, nail varnish and clear plastics to get the desired effects. This creative play and exploration is evident in her collection. I'll be trying to capture this playfulness and lightness in my illustrations.

Obviously, it was important for me to try all the hats on, so I could get an idea of how they sit when worn. A wonderful perk of the job! All I need now is an excuse to invest in one.

Keep checking back to see the outcomes of this project. You can follow my sketching progress on Instagram and I’ll be posting final illustrations on this blog throughout the next few weeks.