Lily Orset, a Leeds-based illustrator, has found their true calling in the small press community. With a love for Risograph and screen printing, they use illustrated stories to explore queerness in a personal way. Through their intricate visual worlds, they create small print runs and editions to preserve tender, silly, or mundane moments.
Working with Risograph feels like a continuation of Lily’s analogue approach to printing. They were first introduced to this technique during their time at Leeds Arts University and further developed it during an internship at Colorama, a Risograph print studio in Berlin. Here, they learned “Riso wizardry” and connected with others who shared their passion for print ephemera.
Lily’s interest in printmaking began during their time at Leeds Arts University and was further developed through collaboration with two close friends who are now part of Louise Press, a trio of illustrators based in Leeds. This press was formed from a close working relationship among Lily and their two housemates. Together, they create work with sentimentality and silliness at its core, always considering who can see themselves in their drawings.
Creating small print communities and ensuring inclusivity in their work is at the heart of Lily’s practice. Through her unique approach to Risograph and screen printing, she brings her illustrated stories to life in a way that resonates with a diverse audience.
Inspired by print and fanzine culture, Lily continues to self-publish projects while working as part of Louise Press. Their intricate visual worlds are transformed into multi-layered prints that start as light pencil drawings before being scanned and cleaned up before being translated into Riso and screen prints.
Lily’s work has become synonymous with the small press community due to its unique blend of sentimentality and humor while also highlighting important issues such as queerness in personal ways.
Overall, Lily Orset’s love for Risograph and screen printing has allowed them to find their true home within the small press community while also bringing joy to those who appreciate the beauty of illustrated stories brought to life through these mediums.
