Why I illustrate

If we haven’t already met, hi, I’m Hannah, a multi-passionate creative who loves channeling creativity into practical visual solutions. I create decorative and symbolic illustrations driven by a passion for creating practical and purposeful art, a drive for creative exploration, and a curiosity that guides me beyond my creative comfort zones with each new subject and software.

Practicality shapes my approach to art — I channel creativity into purposeful, functional outcomes, solving problems visually and communicating ideas and stories through colour and form.

Exploration drives my process, keeping my work fresh and dynamic. I embrace new techniques, subjects, and clients, treating every creative challenge as a puzzle solved with curiosity and imagination.

I thrive just beyond the comfort zone, pushing my creative limits and tackling unfamiliar subjects to better understand them. This approach adds depth and versatility to my work

I’m a visual problem solver, but any new project starts with an open mind and clear communication, helping to establish a mutual understanding of my clients needs and the brief.

Following the initial brief, regular touch points through my creative workflow, from research and ideation, to colourways and final files, ensure the client is happy with the direction of the work, and finished pieces are the result of this open communication between illustrator and client.

While I work independently on the physical creation of an illustration, I am always available to answer questions or discuss details of the project. My work is my passion, and I’m always happy to discuss and explore ideas, whether you’re a seasoned art director or a small business owner who is new to the power of illustration.

Working with me

What’s the process?

The design process begins with a good brief. Some clients know exactly what they want, but if you aren’t too sure, I’m here to understand your business’s design needs, and help write a clear and concise brief with you.

A strong illustration brief will clarify what you want to communicate, who you want to communicate it to, and what I will deliver to you at the end of our project.

Illustrators are visual problem solvers, and once I understand the messages you want your artwork to convey, and what it will be used for in your business, I set about the initial stage of my creative process, which is visual research. During this stage I will look at current industry trends and dive into subject research, making sure I understand the subject so I can later draw it from any angle or perspective the final artwork needs. I once filled half a sketchbook with sketches of rams so I could draw them without a reference for a design.

The next stage is when I really start visual problem solving, using color, tone and iconography to build visual ideas that convey your key themes and messages.

After refining these ideas down, I will send you 3-5 rough concepts.

After hearing feedback, the chosen concept (or a combination of 2) gets refined and explored in more depth. I play with composition, lighting and meaningful details, developing the rough sketches for the final artwork.

Once I have this rough line drawing, I begin to explore colourways, and we will touch base again to approve or amend the final rough drawing and select the colourway for the final artwork.

The next stage is exciting, as all your brainpower and consideration come together and I start creating the final artwork.

I always start with an underpainting, digitally or traditionally, laying down a base colour and some tone. Next the mid-tones get painted in, and then the artwork really comes to life as highlights, shadows and details are added.

The final artwork arrives in your inbox (literal or digital) and we will have one last check in to make sure we agree that your final artwork matches the brief and meets your needs.

Finally when your project makes its public debut, I will credit you as I gleefully share our work on social media and add the piece to my portfolio.

It brings me so much joy to put my artwork to practical use and see it fulfilling a purpose in the real world, so as much as I enjoy the painting and drawing process, this final stage is my favourite.