About me
My name is Rhi (rhymes with some of my favourite things like bee / tea / sea) which is short for Rhiannon, like the Fleetwood Mac song. I'm a children's book illustrator currently based in West Yorkshire, England. Although I grew up in Ynys Môn, Cymru (Anglesey, Wales) with stories of Welsh myths and folklore.
My style has a warm classic yet contemporary feel which is primarily suited for picture book work, but can be pared back and more graphic looking for board books, or more detailed to suit a middle-grade and YA audience as seen in my portfolio.
I work digitally on my iPad to be able to action your feedback quickly. People are often surprised when I say my work is digital when they see my prints, as my work has a hand-drawn quality full of textures. This is because my digital process is built around my hand-drawn work, and how I would draw and paint using gouache, oil pastels, and colouring pencils.
I honed my skills in art and design at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern and Coleg Menai before going on to study illustration at Hereford College of Arts and work as a bookseller at Waterstones where I specialised in children's books and fell in love with picture books. I have since completed my MA in Narrative Illustration at the University of Gloucestershire, where I developed a special interest in childlike wonder, creating meaningful work through empathy and the interplay of pictures and words.
Clients and projects include:
The King with Dirty Feet (2018) was my first published book, written by Sally Pomme Clayton, designed and published by Otter-Barry Books, and Winner of the Best Picture Book category in Oxfordshire 2019.
Ada Bell the Curious Explorer (2020) picture book and accompanying activity book, written by Anna Roberts and published by One Third Stories.
I have also worked with Twinkl Education Publishing as an Illustration Team Leader, Pop Up & Play Co on various activity sheets, Yorkshire Tea on creating a "tea band" for their website and birthday cards to send to their members.
More recently, I've collaborated with Yoto illustrating audio card covers for their Rainbow Garden set. I'm also working on my author-illustrator debut young readers comic with Flying Eye Books.
I'm particularly interested in any projects to do with: animals (bumblebees, dogs, and horses are my favourite!), climate change, friendship, kindness, LGBTQ+, myth and folklore, mushrooms, nature, neurodiversity, women empowerment, Wales and Welsh culture.
Please shoot me a message if my style would suit your project. You can check out my portfolio site to see my work in higher resolution. I'm organised, fast paced, enjoy a challenge, and I'd love to hear from you!
Skills
Colour, Digital Art, Illustration, Visual Layout
Sector Experience
Awards
Best Picture Book Oxfordshire 2019