Lunabee - A Girl in a Man's World?

So what's it like being a creative and talented girl designer in the Urban Vinyl world? Is Urban Vinyl masculine - how does a girl get ahead? Artist Lunabee shares her insights, her tribal leanings and some of her gorgeous, brightly colourful customs!

When did you know you were going to design custom toys?

I’m a freelance illustrator and I’ve an interest in vinyl ever since I fell in love with Dunny Series 3.


A close friend very successful, should I name drop?

OK! The talented Cris Rose suggested I try customizing some toys.

After an afternoon of teaching, I came up with my first custom piece; a Bunnee Qee and thought - I could get use to this! It came really naturally to me to develop characters on a 3D platform; it helped them come to life in a way that I didn’t know was possible.


Many of your pieces come from the Ki Ki Booshka – can you tell us a bit about the tribe?

The Ki Ki Booshka tribe are generally a peaceful bunch living on their tropical island doused in sunshine (that is when Goredema isn’t cooking up storms). Chief Kijani rules the tribe and is well respected amongst his peers, trying to keep peace throughout the tri-island area. All three tribes in the area agreed to rule out cannibalism as it was causing severe problems in depleting the tribes’ population. However, there a few tribal members who are still not adhering to this rule - Matojo the witch doctor being a main suspect! The three tribes only meet when they have to due to rivalry amongst the tribal members often resulting in bone crushing and arm wrestling. In the future, I will be introducing more members of the tribe including the Voodoo Priestess, watch this space…


Your work manages to be both delicate and aggressive – where does your inspiration come from?

I have an extremely overactive imagination! I’ve always enjoyed making up little stories and the characters just develop from that. I create vinyl characters from doodles that pop up in my sketchbook. I’m really inspired by some of the amazing artists out there: Jeremiah Ketner, Caia Koopman, 64 Colors and Catalina Estrada – they make me work harder and perfect my techniques. I love colour; I like my customs to be bright, bold and singing it. I’m not afraid to use contrasting hues and shades and I do what feels right. Just working out a colour palette for a piece can develop into an idea for a fully rounded character.




Urban Vinyl can be very masculine – making your work very unique. How does it feel to be flying the girl flag?

It’s fantastic to think I’m flying the flag for female urban vinyl arists! I’m sure I’m sharing that flag with some of the great female artists out there, I’ve just been lucky enough to get noticed and have tremendous support from the toy blogs. I’d like to think I’m creating work everyone can appreciate regardless of gender though I know girls are prone to appreciating my very bright colour palettes, cute characters and intricate details - which is awesome.


Which piece did you enjoy designing the most?

That has to be Chief Kijani the Mini Munny. I loved illustrating all the little details and when I finished him he just looked so alive and full of character!


Have you thought about doing a show?

So far I’m in three shows this year: Into the Darkness @1am Gallery, the Robolucha Show and the custom toy show organised by IK Sentrik as part of the Frome Festival in July. I’m hoping to be involved in more!

Where can we get our hands on your fantastic stuff?

My stuff is available through my online shop - I aim to put up around one or two pieces a week but they do go very quickly! I am also open to commissions via email at lunabee@miskellaneous.co.uk