Accidents and alchemy creating The Gentlewoman's covers

"It's not entirely a surprise, but it's a delightful provocation..." Penny Martin is the editor of The Gentlewoman, the phenomenally successful magazine that fills its pages with fascinating women and discerning fashion, all presented with a wry smile that sets it apart from the rest of the newsstand. Renowned for its iconic covers that have featured a wide range of stars including Angela Lansbury, Beyoncé and Simone Biles, it rejects standard tools like cover lines and garish colours, instead using characterful portrait photography and subtle design touches to create an impact. In this conversation Penny speaks about the slow-burn process of choosing their cover stars, the trust they place in their collaborators, and the way she knows that they've got a cover right. ("A magazine cover works for us if I end up shrieking with laughter every time I see it.")