We teamed up with SHIO, a London-based Japanese illustrator to breathe new life onto the walls of our Victoria Nova Shack – which reopened on the 31.01.25 after a little face lift.
We sat down with SHIO to talk Shack + explore her creative process.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi, I’m Shio! I’m a Japanese illustrator currently based in London. My work ranges from digital illustrations, murals, paintings, and short animations. With a background in architecture and urban planning, I often draw inspiration from architecture, cityscapes, landscapes, and the people who inhabit them.
I was fortunate to get a visa to temporarily stay in the UK, so I decided to leave my real estate development job in Tokyo and move to London. I wanted to grow as a creative, and had always been interested in a creative city like London.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been inspired by and met many people and am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.
What’s your background in art? How did you get started and what fuels your creativity?
I have loved drawing since I was little, but I drew less and less as I grew older.
Though I wasn’t drawing, I was still interested in creative work, so I studied architecture for my undergraduate degree which gave me several opportunities to start drawing again.
After graduating, I moved to New York to pursue my master’s degree in Urban Planning. The city’s energy inspired me, and I started capturing it through illustrations and sometimes photography. Later, I moved to Los Angeles and worked for Walt Disney Imagineering for about a year. While there, I met many creatives who inspired me. I started attending drawing classes after work, which helped me refine my skills and properly learn the fundamentals of drawing.
In March 2020, just before the pandemic, I returned to Japan but continued my drawing habit while working full-time at a real estate developer. Since I couldn’t go outside and had more time at home, I began illustrating my favourite architecture around the world and posting these illustrations on Instagram. This led to my first commissions, with my first client being my favourite café in New York City, the Hungarian Pastry Shop.
With a background in architecture and urban planning, I find inspiration in architecture, cityscapes, landscapes, and the people in each place. Whenever I visit a new city, I feel deeply inspired to draw.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I always aim to convey different emotions through my work. Most of my pieces are playful and joyful, made to inspire a sense of warmth and happiness. However, I also create works that encourage the audience to reflect and experience their own emotions.
What was your first reaction when we first reached out?
I couldn’t believe it! Shake Shack has been my dream client ever since I learned about how they collaborate with artists.
Before this project, I traveled to the Oxford Shack last summer with my parents to see the artwork by my friend Ellie. I remember telling them that I would love to work on a project like that in the future, so this truly feels like a dream come true!
I have also been a big fan of Shake Shack since my time in New York. I used to go to the Shake Shack at Fulton Transit Center often as it was close to my internship in New York.
Walk us through your creative process. Where did you start?
Since I get most of my inspiration from visiting places, I went to Victoria and walked around the area to understand the area and community. Then, I created three concept sketches. The first concept had a map-like style, the second was a lively composition where I illustrated different elements at varying scales, and the third was a comic panel-like style, which we ultimately decided to go with. I wanted to create a joyful and playful piece where everyone, including dogs and London icons like Big Ben, were enjoying having Shake Shack food.
What’s the story behind the artwork? Any hidden details that Shack fans should look out for?
I hid Shake Shack logos and food items throughout my artwork. Some are easy to spot, but others are cleverly hidden. I also included drawings of my family and some of my friends in the piece.
How do you hope people will feel when they see your art?
I want people to feel happy and positive when they see my art, just like the warmth and joy of sharing a meal. Eating is a comforting and heartwarming experience, and I hope to capture that same sense of connection and enjoyment in my artwork. I also hope it sparks curiosity about the area, as I incorporated different icons in Victoria into my illustration.
Food and art – do they go hand in hand for you?
I think food and art are both important and require creativity. They can be simple at their core, but each offers endless possibilities for exploration, making them even more fascinating. I enjoy experimenting with different styles and mediums in my art, and recently, I’ve also been exploring new recipes and ingredients in my cooking. That’s why I find both food and art so interesting and have something in common—they allow for creativity, discovery, and endless inspiration.
Do you have any hobbies besides art?
I love traveling and photography. I love the feeling of walking around and discovering a new city. On my recent trip to Milan, I walked over 30,000 steps every day!
What’s coming up next for you?
I am currently working on a mural painting in collaboration with one of the local councils in London. I will be working with other artists to illustrate the history of the area. I’m very excited about this project—hopefully, the weather will cooperate since the mural is outdoors.
Finally, what’s your favourite Shake Shack burger combination? Any hacks you want to share?
I don’t have any hacks, but the ‘Shroom Burger is my long-time favourite!
