Introducing: Joanne Hawker

Tell us a little bit about yourself?


My name is Joanne and I am a graduate of the University of Wales Institute Cardiff currently living in a little corner in South Somerset. I am a passionate graphic designer, illustrator, blogger and avid tea maker. I love nothing more than a good piece of design, a brew in hand and watching the little birds from my window.  I particularly enjoy working with pattern, design for print, and packaging, but to be honest I’ll have a go at everything! Recently, I have been experimenting with lino and screen-printing techniques to try and expand my portfolio and creative thinking. I have a long way to go but practice makes perfect! I am also constantly drawing elements of the natural world and being creative. It could be said that my pens are my friends! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I LOVE owls, deers, foxes or anything remotely related to British wildlife as you can see above :)

Where do you find inspiration?


Everywhere! Everywhere I look there will be something that will give me an idea even if its just something silly or small. Mostly I look to the natural world as I live out in the stick and love to watch the birds in my garden scoff down the many varieties of seed that my mother puts out for them. Even the gruelling bike ride to work can be inspiring, especially on cold autumn mornings where you can occasionally catch a glimpse of a deer jumping through the fields! I also find the creative community really inspiring. I follow many creatives on twitter, blogger and society6, which I then feature on my blog - Origami Chicken. During this process I discover many illustration styles or themes that I have not yet come across. In an instant it can spark off the next idea or style that I fancy a go at! :)

Who's your favorite artist?


This is a question that I almost always fail to answer as I have many many people whose work I admire. I suppose if you took a random stab at my book shelf or online reading list you'd find the likes of Gemma Correll, Jon Burgerman and Zeptonn. I also love the work of Cath Kidston, Emma Bridgwater and Orla Kiely. The list can go on and on forever so lets just leave it at that! If you want a daily update of whose work I'm loving check out my blog!

Where would we have seen your work before?


You may have seen my work in a couple places. I have done a lot of work for the International Bee Research Association so if your into your bees look at them! I've been on the BBC's Politics Show Wales, where myself and friend Richie Evans designed a poster for the Yes! Campaign for Wales to have the power to create their own laws. I've also been on various blogs and websites including Inkygoodness, D&AD New Blood and Design Juices.


Where would you like to be in five years time?


In 5 years time I'd like to be living in Bristol with a design job! I'd also like to have my own little greetings company where I get to make pretty pieces of giftware. So if anyone wants to give me a design job in Bristol email me! I'll love you forever and make you lots of tea! I'll bake cakes if you like :)

If you'd like to follow my work and my ramblings have a little look at these links:

• My Portfolio

• My Blog - Origami Chicken

• My Twitter

• My Society6

Introducing: Madi

Tell us a little bit about you?

My name is Madi, and I'm an illustrator living in Dorset. I like to cut and stick and collage and draw and colour-in. My illustrations are mainly created using a combination of collage and mixed media, incorporating a mix of found papers and fabric with hand-drawn elements and typography. I collect paper; brightly-coloured magazines, wallpaper samples, catalogues, envelopes, pretty fragments of paper; basically everything that I might be able to use in a future illustration (so if you have any unwanted paper lying around, then i will happily take it off your hands!)

Where do you find inspiration?

I am inspired by everything; the everyday, the unusual, and the things in my head. Paper is a massive inspiration to me – different colours or patterns or textures create images in my head, which are often the starting point of an illustration. I also find the work of other illustrators very inspiring, especially those who use collage and mixed media in their work. Sara Fanelli and Lauren Child are two illustrators I really admire - I love the use of paper and textures in their work, and also find the way they incorporate illustrations and typography together very inspiring. 

Finally, I will always be inspired by my Mum. She always encouraged me to work hard, and to pursue a career in whatever made me happy. Her strength and bravery taught me to never give up, and knowing that I would be making her proud is sometimes the motivation I need to keep going. ♥

Where would we have seen your work before?

I have created illustrations for Amelia's Magazine, Flamingo Mag, Lionheart Magazine (coming soon!) and The Young Creatives and I've also designed a t-shirt for All Tropical. My work has been featured in Burst Magazine, Pocketful Magazine and Illustration Rally. One of my most recent illustrations - a Northern Spotted Owl - was included in Creature Mag's Endangered Creature ebook.

I have also created a children's picture book called I'm A Little Bit Scared Of... - the storyline of which explores a range of the different fears that children experience when they are young. This was perfect for me as an illustrator, because it meant that I got to create lots of characters including some monsters, which are my favourite. You can find out more about the book here.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

My ambitions are to have a children's book published, and to be successful enough that my illustration career can support me financially - it would be amazing to make a career out doing something I love.

If you'd like to find out more about me and my artwork, then have a little peek at these links; 
My Website.
My Blog.
My Shop.
My Twitter.

Introducing: Kerri-Ann Hulme

Tell us a little bit about you?
My name is Kerri-Ann Hulme and I am a part-time illustrator living in Cheshire. My dream is to write & illustrate my own children's book and have it published. I am interested in quaint, pretty things, along with fairy tales and magic.

Where do you find inspiration?

Most of my inspirations are classic illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Kay Nielsen, Aubrey Beardsley and more recently Tasha Tudor and Inga Moore. 

Illustration - Inga Moore

I also adore the work of Yelena Bryksenkova, she has sketchbooks on her website that are presented and coloured so beautifully, she is definitely one of my favourites and I look at her work whenever I'm feeling uninspired.


As another form of inspiration, I have started to collect old and new children's books. I currently have around 22 but I am sure there are more hidden in the attic from my own childhood. 


Where would we have seen your work before?
I have created illustrations for magazines such as Flamingo Mag, Amelia's Magazine, Mouth London and Creature Mag. I was recently selected by Creature Mag to take part, along with 25 others, in illustrating an animal for their ebook on Endangered Creatures. I was given a caspian seal.

My most recent piece of work was a process that I haven't tried for about 4 years. So it was an experiment to see if I could illustrate using acrylic paints. I decided to do a scene from The Little Mermaid, where the Prince is drowning from the shipwreck and the mermaid races to save him.

My next project is an entry for the Children's Book Rally. I am creating 2 double page spreads per story and I am having so much fun creating them. I can't wait to share what I have been doing! 

Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

I would love to be living in Sheffield working in a creative place, such as a magazine or gallery/studio, while doing freelance illustrations part-time. I also would love to have my own children's book on the shelves in bookshops by then!

If you would like to keep up to date me and my artwork you can follow my twitter, blog and website.