For professional illustrator and artist Hannah Gillingham, drawing has never simply been a hobby, it has been the thread running through her entire creative life. From filling schoolbooks with pencil portraits to studying Illustration and Visual Communication at the University of Westminster, Hannah has built a career around storytelling, craft and a fascination with people. After graduating in 2019 and later being made redundant during the COVID-19 pandemic, she took the leap into freelance illustration, turning an unexpected career setback into the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Now based in West Berkshire and represented worldwide by Jelly, Hannah has worked with global names including Apple, Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, 20th Century Studios, Universal Pictures and SEGA. Her distinctive practice combines realism, imagination and hand-painted textures, moving between digital tools and traditional materials to create cinematic visual narratives. From her approach to illustration and finding inspiration in the old masters to her advice for aspiring creatives, Hannah shares how persistence, passion projects and a love of storytelling have shaped her journey, including one particularly memorable project celebrating 35 years of Sonic the Hedgehog.
How did you first get into the industry?
My story began like many artists did. Ever since I was very small I have always loved to draw and knew that when I grew up that I had to do something which allowed me to continue drawing and painting. At school I was forever drawing, specifically people and portraits, trying my hardest to draw people as realistically as I could with my trusty pencil. I would drive my teachers insane with my stubbornness as I wouldn’t draw anything else or give up the pencil for any other medium. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else, if I wasn’t going to be creating I had nothing to fall back on so I had to make it happen. The only problem was I didn’t know what that looked like until I discovered the world of Illustration when applying for University.
I grew up in a small town in Berkshire in the UK, where I currently live, and went to study Illustration and Visual Communication at the University of Westminster in London.
After graduating in 2019, I went straight into full-time work. I worked as a ‘Creative Visualiser’ at an events company in London, where I had previously worked as an intern, and stayed there until I was unfortunately made redundant due to COVID-19. This led me to take the plunge and begin working for myself as a freelance illustrator and I haven’t looked back since..
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I’m a professional illustrator and artist, working and living in West Berkshire, UK. Over recent years I have worked with major global brands including Apple, Disney, LucasFilm, Marvel, 20th Century Studios, Universal Pictures and SEGA, and have been featured in exhibitions across the UK and the United States. I am represented worldwide by Jelly.
What is your personal background and what role did it play in your career?
Having come from working primarily traditionally before finding digital illustration, I have always had a deep love for traditional painting, such as oils, and retain a great appreciation of pencil and paper. I’ve always aspired to blur the line between traditional and digital illustration and get people questioning whether a piece is indeed traditional or digital. I love recreating traditional painting techniques digitally, bringing a tactile yet contemporary approach to craft. Typically when working on an illustration my line work is often done digitally for speed, however I don’t think there is anything quite like sketching in a sketchbook.
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
If I weren’t an illustrator or artist I think I would love to work in film and tv, in the art department creating and designing props. I couldn’t imagine doing anything that wasn’t creative!
Can you explain your creative process? What makes it unique?
All my work is hand drawn, either digitally on my wacom cintiq or on paper or canvas. My work is built around storytelling, which has always been my truest form of escapism. Grounded in a passion for craft and the desire to distill ideas to their core through conceptual solutions, I love to build cinematic scenes that blur the line between the real and surreal. Fuelled by a genuine fascination with people and their stories, through expressive depictions of character and emotion, I create visual narratives that resonate on a human level, inviting connection, reflection and a sense of wonder.
How would you describe your style?
I’d describe my approach as a blend of realism and imagination, full of traditional hand-painted textures.
Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
My friends. I am lucky enough to have a great group of talented friends who are also artists and designers. I’ve always looked up to them and found them and their work greatly inspiring! I also often refer to traditional artists and ‘the old masters’ for inspiration as well, my personal favourites are John Singer Sargent, Lucian Freud and Frida Kahlo.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
Create the work you want to be hired for. Art directors and clients need to see relevant examples in your portfolio so they know you’re the illustrator for the job. Create passion projects and speculative briefs that you want to create instead of waiting.
What tips would you give to other professionals to get more clients?
Be persistent and consistent. Find out what work you want to do and who requires that work then go and reach out to them. Social media and emailing work but also consider sending physical marketing material to potential clients.
What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?
As a primarily digital artist I’d be lost without my Wacom drawing tablet and Photoshop as they are my most used pieces of kit. I do also think that I couldn’t do without my sketchbook and pencils as they are where I first go to when I begin sketching out an idea at the beginning of any project.
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
I try to keep a healthy work life balance when I can and rest. When I’m not working I like to read, watch films and play video games. I also love to go out to different art/ design events or gallery exhibitions and meet up with friends and fellow artists to catch up and share what we’re working on.
What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?
This June, to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, I got the opportunity to work with Moor-Art Gallery and SEGA to help capture one of Sonic's most iconic moments as part of The Sonic Art Dash.
What started with James Hobson at Moor-Art, as an idea around a table full of artists and pizza in early 2025, has grown into something much bigger and more exciting than we could have ever imagined! With human artists at the forefront alongside SEGA.
To mark 35 years of Sonic, seven artists were commissioned to paint the most iconic moments from Sonic's history. My piece, painted in oil on canvas, is inspired by Sonic Unleashed (2008), capturing Sonic ripping through the narrow streets of Apotos in the unforgettable Windmill Isle level.
My truest form of escapism has always been storytelling, and this extends to gaming. Some of my earliest gaming memories are tied to Sonic, more specifically Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games on the Wii. It was such a joy to revisit these memories while working on this piece and made the experience even more special.
Limited edition prints of my artwork, alongside the incredible artwork of all the participating artists, were made available through Moor Art Gallery. Alongside these prints, the artwork was then immortalised across the walls of Shoreditch in London and fully unleashed as giant hand painted murals! It was so surreal to see the artworks at such a massive scale.
You could even run, jog or walk the Sonic Circuit on Strava where the route was the shape of Sonic's head!
The cherry on top however was being invited to SEGA Europe in London, along with the other artists, and being shown around the office.
