An Interview with Lisa Davies

During September '26 we caught up with Lisa Davies, one of Puzzly's British artists that we collaborate with.  

We love her paintings as they depict every day life in a typical British way, from The Mad Cat Lady to Sandy Paws, each illustration tells more than just a story.

 Who has inspired you and your style of work the most? 

“From an early age, it was an artist called Bruegel, who was a Dutch artist.  My mum had a painting on the wall and there were all these people doing different things, and every time you looked at it, you could see something else and I loved it. 

Lowry was another artist I love. As a child, I was crazy about all the impressionists.  I loved illustrators like Ralph Scarfe, Quinton Blake and Tony Ross too. Storytelling through pictures was a big thing for me. 

Even the Richard Scarry books as a child with all the animals doing different things was fascinating. I loved looking at the pictures and finding the hidden details.

I think doing an illustration degree is all about learning how to direct your characters, as a director would do in a play, and telling a story through your piece of art. I love telling stories through my work and love to try to convey emotions through each piece too.

I’ve got a wicked sense of humour and I find life very funny. I laugh at funny situations and I'm a real people watcher too. So the combination of those artists and me loving telling stories, is how it's all come together in what I do. I'm definitely a narrator”. 

 What are you currently working on? 

“I've just finished one, it’s a cat cafe painting.  I thought that would be fun. My cat things seem to sell quite well for me. I think there were 17 cats in that one. 

I've also just started a new one, which is of dogs, loads of dogs singing and howling around a lamppost. It’s twilight time of the day. People I've showed it to have said it looks quite like Dodie Smith's, The Midnight Kittens and I thought, gosh, it is, because I've got London houses in the background. It’s going to be a challenge as I’ve got to get the colours right.  

I've also got to stop myself sticking pigeons in, because I'm not very good at leaving empty spaces”. 

Do you like doing puzzles? And how do you feel about your artwork being turned into puzzle? 

“Since I was tiny I loved doing puzzles.  My favourite Christmas present was a puzzle. I’m a huge puzzle fan and when you see your artwork turned into a puzzle, it's just...  so exciting. 

My mum and dad bought me this beautiful puzzle. It was of a mare and her foal and I was sitting doing it with my mum, one of my fondest memories.  

I find it really relaxing and so therapeutic as well. 

What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not busy with your art? 

I love doing crafts and puzzles. I'm busy knitting some cushions for our front room at the minute. I’m always fidgeting and just can’t sit still.  I do love horses too and I used to ride right up until recently. So if I could, I'd get back on a horse or be around horses, because that's where my happy place is.

I grew up just outside London with my family. All my siblings used to go up to the bright lights of London and go shopping and I went in the opposite direction. 

I love the country and I think it's come from my Irish family who were farmers. I'm sure that I'm more like my Granddad and just love being outside in the fresh air. 

Lisa Davies' Socials

Puzzles featuring Lisa Davies' Artwork