Naomi Chan on her transition from fashion executive to artist and why the future is abstract

Why did you decide to become an artist? “I have always been creative. I learned painting and art from a young age and studied graphic design at university. I began my career at an advertising agency, and eventually moved into communications at fashion brands such as Saint Laurent and Dior.

“I always had my sketchbook with me – it’s a habit I picked up when I spent a year studying in Paris after graduation. It wasn’t until I left the fashion world that I really focused on using art as a medium to express myself.”

What are your favourite subjects? “Although my style lends itself nicely to fashion, it is not my focus. I tend to gravitate towards portraits and objects that I find the most connection with. After leaving Dior, I explored these two subjects quite intensely, but now I’m moving towards more abstract ideas and thoughts.”

What inspired your creations for Post Magazine? “It’s my first fashion job per se, and my brief was to recreate the pre-fall collections in detail. I chose the model’s face and look myself. Rather than take inspiration from fashion, I looked at artists such as Egon Schiele and writers and filmmakers like Wes Anderson. None of my inspiration came from the fashion world.”

How would you describe your style? “It keeps evolving. At the beginning I loved vivid colours, but it became more experimental. For me, my drawings are about exploration, which is why I wouldn’t call myself a fashion illustrator.

“In my mind I always feel a fashion illustrator has a sense of perfect proportions and tends to create models with specific gestures or expressions. This is not really my style or strength. Painting is my language.”