About me
I am an illustrator and artist whose practice is rooted in a fascination with animals and the stories they can tell when brought into conversation with the world around us. Animals are the central inspiration in my work: sometimes I depict them in natural environments, other times I imagine them inhabiting human spaces such as cafés, museums, or gardens. Through this interplay of setting and subject, I seek to capture both character and atmosphere, encouraging viewers to see familiar creatures in new and surprising ways.
My work sits at the intersection of illustration, stylisation, and realism. I often combine ink, acrylic, coloured pencil, and watercolour to achieve depth and texture, creating artworks that balance precision with expressive mark-making. This layered approach reflects my belief that illustration can go beyond storytelling on the page—it can become a way of exploring history, place, and identity through visual form.
Alongside my animal studies, I am strongly inspired by architecture and heritage sites, particularly those under the care of the National Trust and English Heritage. These places, with their rich histories and layered narratives, often serve as backdrops or points of departure for my illustrations. Travel also shapes my practice, whether sketching in pubs close to home, exploring new landscapes abroad, or documenting cultural and natural details encountered along the way.
My portfolio extends into collections and themed series, including completed National Day collections, which celebrated cultural identity through illustrative storytelling. In addition to original works, I create greeting cards and bespoke commissions that allow people to connect personally with places, animals, and narratives that are meaningful to them. More recently, I have begun to explore printmaking with a specialist press, adding a new dimension to my creative output.
I have exhibited my work at Made in the Pewsey Vale, the Mall Galleries in London, and SB Art Studios, London. Each of these opportunities has reinforced my commitment to illustration as a professional practice and strengthened my belief in its capacity to reach a wide audience. Through my studio, Reavenall Art, I continue to develop collections, take on commissions, and expand into new products and processes. Previously working with an author, Sarah Halswell, I have illustrated her children's book series 'Widdle and Grog' and is now published and available to purchase through Amazon.
At the heart of my practice is illustration as a form of storytelling—one that places animals at the centre, draws on the richness of heritage and travel, and combines traditional media with contemporary approaches to create work that is both personal and accessible.
Skills
Digital Art, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Packaging Design, Pattern Design, Print Design