Meet our THREAD illustrator: Carla Dee

Each month, CreativeMornings has a different theme for the talks given at our local chapter events around the world. It is our tradition to work with an artist in our community to create an illustration for each monthly theme.

Our theme for November is THREAD. It was chosen by our Derby chapter in the United Kingdom, illustrated by Carla Dee, and is presented by our global partner Adobe.

You can see more of Carla’s work on her site lovelalaland.co.uk and follow her on Instagram @lovelalalanduk, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Threads @lovelalalanduk.

Listen to how to pronounce Carla’s name.

Here’s how Carla describes her work…

I’m Carla Dee, a smiler, daydreamer, and doodler from Derby, UK - though, more seriously, I’m a freelance illustrator, community artist and the proud creator of Love Lalaland, a cute and colourful dream world where anything is possible!

Love Lalaland was born during my maternity leave when I realised I wasn’t following my dreams. Having always been interested in drawing as a child, I decided to pursue my passion and discover my unique style. Since then, I haven’t looked back. My mission is simple: to make the world a brighter, happier place through my art.

My work is a vibrant celebration of positivity and individuality, crafted for colour lovers who adore the Kawaii style, radiate good vibes, and embrace the uniqueness in everyone. Doodling allows me to express my authentic self through fluid lines and a perfectly imperfect drawing style.

Influenced by popular culture, street art and character design, my style is fresh, bold and playful - perfect for those who need a burst of happiness to brighten their day.

Everything begins as a doodle in my sketchbook, which I fill with ideas in my home studio, fondly named the Doodle Den. From there, I bring my designs to life digitally on my iPad, where the real fun begins as I layer on vivid colours and add hidden details.

My rainbow-tastic creations are a mix of bold strokes and cartoon-like fun, expressing a playful spirit that appeals to the big kid in all of us.

I’m passionate about lifelong learning and love sharing my craft with others through workshops and mentoring. Whether I’m inspiring the next generation of doodlers, collaborating with my local creative community or supporting well-being initiatives through various community projects, I believe in the power of art to make the world a better place.

At the heart of it all, my family, friends and local environment are my greatest inspiration, fueling both my art and the ethos of Love Lalaland - a colourful world of quirky characters and playful landscapes that bring my imagination to life with positive pink power and #LalalandLove.

Through my work, I hope to bring happiness and encourage everyone to embrace their creativity and celebrate the colourful possibilities in life.

Selected Works