Yuk Fun x Arket

Lifestyle photography for Brighton-based illustration and design duo Yuk Fun.
Yuk Fun is Lucy Cheung, Patrick Gildersleeves, and Dora the cat. They’re known for their bold colours, playful anthropomorphised characters, and an unapologetically fun style. I spent a day with them in their home studio capturing their creative process through lifestyle photography on behalf of Arket.

a portrait of two artists in their studio surrounded by creative ephemera

close up photograph of an artist drawing in sketchbook with market pens

photography of a male artist screen printing a yellow t-shirt in studio

photograph of a female artist preparing ink for screen printing

photograph of a wall of illustrations in various sizes and colours

close up photograph of artist sketchbook with marker pens by side

photograph of two artists wearing their own designs on t-shirts in their home studio

photograph of a woman holding a black cat and the cat is very unhappy

The aim of this project was to create a collection of images that not only showcases their work but also tells the story behind the art. I wanted to show the care, craft, and time that goes into their creations, documenting everything from loose sketchbook doodles to vibrant screen-printed T-shirts drying on the rack. This was a project bringing viewers inside the wonderful world of Yuk Fun.

Lucy and Patrick founded Yuk Fun in 2014 and have been making art together ever since. They design and hand-produce an array of illustrated goods, transforming their drawings into tangible products. On any given day, you might find them screen printing bold graphics onto sweatshirts, designing eye-catching t-shirts, or knocking out a batch of tote bags covered with their signature characters. Everything is made in small batches with a personal touch. Their mantra is simple: “We just really like making stuff.”

Yuk Fun’s distinctive style hasn’t gone unnoticed. They recently collaborated with Swedish fashion brand Arket on a special Lunar New Year collection celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. The limited-edition release featured Yuk Fun’s whimsical rabbit illustrations on unisex t-shirts, tote bags, and children’s clothing. It was a perfect match for Arket’s modern yet playful aesthetic, and a testament to how Lucy and Patrick’s designs can charm an international audience.
Arket hired me to shoot Patrick and Lucy in their home studio for a feature on the Arket website and social media channels.

At its heart, this project was about storytelling. Rather than staged studio portraits or product shots on a plain backdrop, we went for a lifestyle photography approach, showing Yuk Fun in their element. The resulting images feel genuine because they are — whether it’s Lucy laughing over a goofy sketch or Patrick focused intently as he pulls a print, each photo reveals a piece of their story.
Viewers don’t just see the finished t-shirts and bags; they see the artists’ hands at work, the splatters of ink, and the studio decor that makes their space unmistakably theirs. This kind of narrative-driven photography is powerful for independent brands like Yuk Fun because it gives people a real window into the process, building a deeper connection with the ones who wear and love their designs.