Meet the Artist: Niina Pechkovskaya

Continuing our tradition of working with emerging artists, this year we’ve partnered with Berlin-based watercolour illustrator Niina Pechkovskaya to create our two beautiful Christmas Collections.

We chatted to Niina to find out how she got into illustration, what’s on her Christmas wishlist and which Pai products she couldn’t live without.

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Niina, I’m 31 and I was born in St.Petersburg, Russia. I now live in Berlin with my husband and work as an illustrator.

How did you get started as an illustrator?

I was studying graphic design in the University of St.Petersburg, however I was always interested in illustration.

One day I sent out a load of emails proposing my skills to different magazines and got two replies.

Little by little illustration became my main job. My favourite projects are always themed on fashion and beauty.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I usually wake up around 8:30am, have breakfast and then head straight to my working corner; a desk with my computer and watercolours.

I’m a bit of a night owl, so the most productive hours for me are in the late evening – but I still try to get things done in the daytime, otherwise it’s difficult to have a normal, healthy lifestyle!

I also work part-time at one of Pai’s stockists, amazingy.com. I like also doing something other than illustration. It helps me maintain a kind of rhythm and gives me new ideas.

What’s on your Christmas wishlist?

I haven’t really thought about it yet. Maybe a new phone though, as mine is slowly dying!

Do you have a favourite Pai product?

My absolute favourite is actually the Organic Muslin Cloths!

I really like their texture and they’re miles better than any others I’ve tried. I have combination skin, so I feel like exfoliation is extra important for me.

The Copaiba & Zinc Perfect Balance Blemish Serum, works really well for my skin too.

I also love the Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil. Everything about it; the bottle, the colour, the smell (which reminds me of an oil my granny used to use to nourish her skin). I use it once or twice a week before bed.