FIRST PERSON: Pirate

Portrait by Olivier Yoan

Constant run ins with the ever-affable “Pirate” (not her baptismal name – that would be Tanya Bennett) at fashionable events have finally led us to her studio. There’s a glorious dichotomy to this young lady; glamazon in pretty ensembles at a corner of a designer label event versus sweaty marathoner, in well-used trainers passing lesser athletes by in a flash of neon and Nike.

“Well, in Hong Kong, you can be both; anything and everything. No judgement,” she says. “Well, maybe a little.” We laugh.

Since graduating in 2007 with a degree in clothing design and manufacture (specialising in illustration and fashion advertising), she’s been working in the field of art, design for years. Her sketches have a whimsy and personal stamp that’s unique and so lovely, even the biggest brands have taken note and hired her for collaborations.

The paths of corporate guidelines and creative enterprise often bifurcate, but as luck would have it, she’s had few bumps on the road, “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of incredible brands, such as Christian Louboutin, Fendi and Cartier, among others. Each of which have granted me the creative freedom to interpret their brief, allowing us to deliver a beautiful visual that best represents the brand. Being able to use my paintbrush to collaborate with these fashion juggernauts is a dream come true. The only downside is that lead-times are notoriously tight, especially in a fast paced city such as Hong Kong. I have had to pull several all-nighters and work through creative blocks in order to reach a deadline. “

With her Lamma apartment as gloriously quaint and colourful as one would expect from an artist of her calibre, with the most precocious trio of rescued cats included, the trail runner has a long map of goals she’s set herself. “I am keen to finally find time to draw a series of influential women I admire, both in my personal life and in a broader sense. Plus, I am intensely passionate about being in the mountains and running. Personal or professional, this year, I plan to climb every mountain.”

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