Artist of the Month - @lumps

Lumps is the brainchild of UK-based illustrator and creator Sam Drew. What started as a sketchbook filled with quirky oddballs has since exploded into a full-blown universe of trading cards, stickers, prints, and collectibles, all stitched together with humor, surrealism, and a touch of creepiness.

"What started as a small personal project has grown into a universe people can actually collect and be part of."

From digital beginnings to hands-on experiments in painting and 3D printing, Sam has built more than just characters: a community of collectors and fans who eagerly await each new drop of the monthly Lumps Collector's Club: Sam's final boss project. Let's dive into Sam's creative journey: how his practice has evolved, the turning points along the way, and where he hopes to take Lumps next.

StickerApp: Hi Sam, we're stoked to have you as our October Artist of the Month! First off: Tell us about you, and your alter ego, Lumps!

Lumps: Thanks, friends! I’m Sam Drew, but most people know me through my work as Lumps. It’s a world full of oddball characters, trading cards, prints, stickers, and objects that I’ve been slowly building up over the years. What started as a small personal project has grown into a universe people can actually collect and be part of. My dream is to keep pushing it further, making more physical work, experimenting with 3D printing and painting, and one day pulling it all together into a full animated series.

StickerApp: Great! When and how did your creative journey begin?

Lumps: I’ve always been drawing, but I started properly in 2016 when I went freelance. At the start, it was mostly digital illustration and graphic design, but as I got more projects, I was able to go full-time as an illustrator. I eventually taught myself to animate my work, too, which I love. More recently, I’ve been pulled back into making physical things again, prints, painted pieces, handmade elements, and even experimenting with 3D printing! After so much digital overload, it feels refreshing to print, paint, and work with real materials; that tactile side has become just as important to me as drawing.

StickerApp: Was there a pivotal moment in your career that changed everything?

Lumps: Starting the Lumps Collector’s Club. Hands down. It’s a monthly subscription where people get packs filled with trading cards, stickers, prints, and odd surprises from the Lumps universe. It completely changed how I work; instead of dropping things randomly, I now have a steady way to share new creations while building a real community around them.

A big part of that has been the support from StickerApp, which partnered with me and helped me create some of the coolest packs with their stickers. It gave structure to what I do and connected me directly with my collectors, which is so cool!

StickerApp: That's amazing! What drives you as an artist, and what advice would you give to new artists?

Lumps: The collectors really do drive me forward. Knowing people are waiting for the next pack keeps me making. I also get a lot of inspiration just from other artists I follow on Instagram, seeing how they experiment and push their work. More traditional artists like Gerald Scarfe and Moebius were early influences, and as a kid, I was obsessed with Richard Scarry. I think my love for detail started there, cramming little worlds with characters and objects. These days, even just painting or figuring out a 3D print sparks ideas and keeps me moving.

My biggest advice for new artists is: Don’t wait for the perfect idea or moment, just start. Make things, share them, and let the work teach you where to go next. People often think it has to be polished, but half the time it’s the scrappy, playful pieces that resonate the most.

StickerApp: How would you define your style, and what are your favorite techniques?

Lumps: Playful, surreal, sometimes creepy, sometimes funny. I work digitally a lot, but I always try to keep it loose so it feels hand-drawn rather than polished. I like it when things look like they’ve just tumbled out of the sketchbook. More recently, I’ve been mixing in animation and 3D modelling; they’re new ways to expand the same world I’ve been building for years.

StickerApp: Tell us about the design of your October Thank You card: What was your inspiration?

Lumps: Heh, Halloween is an easy fit for me! A lot of my work already has a slightly creepy but playful edge. I had plenty of pieces I could draw from, so this card was a chance to lean into that side and make something seasonal to collect. I was really happy when StickerApp asked me to create it, and it was fun to design something that ties my world into the Spooktober theme.

StickerApp: Why do you choose StickerApp as your sticker partner in crime, and how do you use stickers for your business and personal brand?

Lumps: The materials are spot on, especially the holographic one, and the range means I can really experiment! The team is incredible and always goes above and beyond to help me get the designs right. It feels more like being part of a creative circle than just placing an order, and that community vibe makes a huge difference.

I use StickerApp to create stickers that go into my Collector’s Club packs and shop orders. They’re affordable, playful, and easy to share; someone might stick one on their laptop, sketchbook, or phone case. I love that they can live out in the world like that, carrying a little piece of the Lumps universe into everyday life.

StickerApp: Wow, love that! What are your goals for the future?

Lumps: To grow the Collector’s Club into a bigger community of collectors, and to keep expanding what members get each month. Beyond that, I want to keep learning and making, painting more, getting deeper into 3D modelling and printing, and bringing characters into physical form through sculptures and figures. The long-term dream is to build it all into an animated series where this world can properly come to life.

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Sam! To keep up with Lumps, head over to his Instagram: @lumps.