Exploring Life Through Katy Lawrence's Lens
We first discovered Katy Lawrence’s beautiful world through Instagram — drawn in by her dreamy, sun-drenched videos and soulful imagery. When we saw she was spending time in Lombok, we reached out on a whim, curious to connect and explore the possibility of working together.
What followed was one of those serendipitous meetings that just felt just right from the start. Over a morning coffee, and shared creative excitement, we quickly realised we were united by a love of natural beauty, honest storytelling, and the simple, nourishing rhythms of life.
Since then, we’ve been on a gentle journey of collaboration, bringing to life the spirit of our upcoming Harvest campaign. Katy’s work, with its delicate balance of softness and strength, felt like the perfect lens through which to explore the theme of the nurturing woman.
In this conversation, we dive into Katy’s inspirations, her deep connection to nature and Cornwall, her love of travel, and the rituals that feed her art and her heart. We hope you’ll be as enchanted by her as we are.
What followed was one of those serendipitous meetings that just felt just right from the start. Over a morning coffee, and shared creative excitement, we quickly realised we were united by a love of natural beauty, honest storytelling, and the simple, nourishing rhythms of life.
Since then, we’ve been on a gentle journey of collaboration, bringing to life the spirit of our upcoming Harvest campaign. Katy’s work, with its delicate balance of softness and strength, felt like the perfect lens through which to explore the theme of the nurturing woman.
In this conversation, we dive into Katy’s inspirations, her deep connection to nature and Cornwall, her love of travel, and the rituals that feed her art and her heart. We hope you’ll be as enchanted by her as we are.
Q: Your photography and videography always feel so rooted in real moments—I'm curious, what early experiences or discoveries sparked that soulful, down-to-earth aesthetic in you?
A: This is a really good question and I’ve had to think for a while about how to answer this. I think I learnt early on in my life that I needed to be in nature to feel settled. I grew up in Bristol in the South West of England, a very peaceful city, with easy access to countryside and green spaces. My childhood holidays were spent in Cornwall, where I live now and I was left to my own devices, to explore and to spend all day roaming the lanes and the surrounding fields and cliffs.
I then spent my twenties living in cities; London, New York briefly and travelling to Europe for work as a production coordinator working on TV drama shows. Living and working in busy cities, I always felt uncomfortable, unsettled and stressed out, so I would always find myself gravitating to parks, fields, rivers and sea as much as possible. I now understand this was my way of regulating my nervous system. I found photography as a way of capturing beautiful places and moments that made me feel peaceful, to keep a part of that with me always.
I then spent my twenties living in cities; London, New York briefly and travelling to Europe for work as a production coordinator working on TV drama shows. Living and working in busy cities, I always felt uncomfortable, unsettled and stressed out, so I would always find myself gravitating to parks, fields, rivers and sea as much as possible. I now understand this was my way of regulating my nervous system. I found photography as a way of capturing beautiful places and moments that made me feel peaceful, to keep a part of that with me always.
Q: When you first picked up a camera, did you feel an immediate sense of home or belonging in that moment—and what is it that still makes you fall in love with visual storytelling today?
A: I have been teaching myself how to shoot film for 15 years now, and it’s all in the mistakes (of which there are plenty!) and not giving up or feeling too disheartened when a roll of film doesn’t quite match what you had in your mind. So in answer to your question, I definitely did not feel an immediate sense of belonging when I took up film photography. I made so many mistakes and have been consistently humbled by my lack of knowledge, but it was those mistakes that taught me to be the photographer I have become. I love that I am still learning, still making mistakes, but becoming more sure of my aesthetic and more knowledgeable with every roll of film.
Q: You’ve travelled to some beautiful, far-flung places in your life — I’d love to know, how has travelling and immersing yourself in different landscapes, cultures, and ways of living shaped you, both as a woman and as an artist? Are there any places that left a lasting mark on your creative spirit?
A: Despite having developed a late in life fear of flying (very inconvenient!) I still dream of travelling the world. This dream has quietened temporarily, due to buying a home and rooting ourselves to the land that surrounds it, but the places I have been will always have a place in my heart. For a few years now, we’ve been returning to a little surf community in West Sumbawa. It works perfectly as my boyfriend surfs from sunrise to sunset, and I spend the days exploring, collecting shells and photographing the landscapes. Another place that stays with me is the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. The sunrises are extraordinary. The light is like none other I’ve ever seen; golden and totally magical. Travelling is such a gift, but is also sometimes hard. I’ve been terribly homesick and also incredibly happy. It’s these highs and lows that feel much more intense when you’re away from the safety of your home. It’s important to experience these moments and to know that you’re strong and you’ll be ok.
Q: Cornwall is where you live and shoot mostly—what is it about its landscapes that make this place feel like the perfect backdrop for your work?
A: There is a wildness to West Cornwall especially, that inspires me. Life here is beautiful but it can also be tough. The winters are wild, wet and stormy and Summer can be the same. Living here, you’re forced to stay present, to go with what the weather throws at you. I’ve had photoshoots with high winds and sideways rain and photoshoots that feel like a day in the tropics. But throughout it all, there is always a backdrop of stunning granite cliffs, wild woodland, turquoise sea, golden sands and hedgerows filled with flowers.
Q: I see on your Instagram, you have a garden and love plants and flowers. What’s flourishing in your garden this season, and how does the garden bring about a sense of peace
A: Since buying our house, I feel much more rooted to the ground than I used to. Perhaps this is a bit revealing, but buying our house brought up a lot of fear in me. I had spent my entire adult life not committing to anything, floating freely through life, working freelance and travelling at any opportunity I was given. Last year we bought a little bungalow with an acre of land, and our days are now spent caring for our garden, clearing nettles, bind weed and brambles, tending to our vegetable patch, sowing meadows for the bees and planning a future where we can live in harmony with the birds that call our garden home. My need to escape, to travel, to see the rest of the world has temporarily fallen by the wayside and I now find complete peace and inspiration in my daily care of the garden. 
Q: In LILYA’s Harvest campaign shot in Cornwall, we celebrate the nurturing woman—how did that vision of quiet yet unwavering care strike a chord with you during the shoot?”
A: It felt natural to begin this shoot in our wildflower field with our beautiful friend and model, Bella. She sat among the tiny pink geraniums, moving gently with the breeze that swept through the daisies, holding freshly cut, homegrown blooms of ranunculus and sweet peas. The nurturing woman I envisioned is someone who spends her days in the garden—sowing seeds, watering, and tenderly caring for each flower. I hope we’ve captured that in these photographs.
Q: When life gets full—between shoots, the garden, everyday living—what simple ritual or act of self-care helps you reconnect with your own sense of nourishment?
A: My selfcare is so basic but it works. Tidy the house. Fresh sheets on the bed. Make a pot of homegrown lemon verbena tea. Light a scented candle. Read. Sleep.
Thank you, Katy, for sharing the stories behind your work, your love of gardening, and the gentle rituals that inspire you. It’s been such a joy to walk alongside you in creating something so meaningful together. We can’t wait to share the magic of Harvest with our community — a celebration of beauty, creativity, and the quiet strength of the nurturing woman.
Check out Katy's work: @katylawrencefilm and www.katylawrence.co.uk
Check out Katy's work: @katylawrencefilm and www.katylawrence.co.uk