ABOUT

This personal illustration is a celebration of Frankel, one of the most celebrated racehorses in thoroughbred racing history. I wanted to capture not only the power and elegance of the horse, but the energy and drama of the racetrack through a bold, expressive illustration style.

Working from photographic reference, I focused on creating a strong sense of movement and character through loose hand-drawn marks, layered textures and a vibrant, limited colour palette. The exaggerated red outline and contrasting greens, blues and earthy tones give the piece a graphic, almost screen-printed quality, while the gestural detailing adds depth and personality to both horse and jockey.

The project allowed me to explore my passion for illustration, expressive mark-making and storytelling through colour, while pushing my approach to drawing a subject with a strong sense of movement and emotion. The result is a contemporary interpretation of a racing icon that balances observational detail with a distinctly handcrafted aesthetic.