A specialist in illustrating architecture and people, Zoë was tasked with illustrating iconic collectable shortbread tins to showcase Marks & Spencer's heritage 'Penny Bazaar' shops.
A short history lesson for the uninitiated: the 'Penny Bazaar' shops first opened in 1894, sold household goods and haberdashery, and as the name suggested, everything cost one penny.
Marks & Spencer treated us to a fascinating brief and history, with photos from their personal archive of bygone buildings and cheerful characters.
Borrowing elements from classic store fronts in Kilburn, Southampton and Leeds, Zoë created a timeless scene bustling with personality and immersive detail - all while working within a real head-scratcher of a template.
With a contemporary nod to tradition and heritage that isn’t novelty or old-fashioned, it is a beautiful bespoke design. They hit the shelves in January 2023, so naturally we bought a few of our own to display at HFHQ. Not only are they stunning but we have to admit the shortbread isn’t too bad either!
It's not just an illustration... It's a Zoë Barker illustration.
