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Creative Boom profiles Thai illustrator Sornsil Apichirapokey, known as Livelyhood, whose tranquil, meditative works draw inspiration from Buddhist philosophy and nature. After moving from Bangkok to the quiet Satun region, his practice evolved toward illustration, producing projects like the eco-themed card game Mission Zero for P24 and poster campaigns for CIMB Bank. His serene, gradient-rich style reflects mindfulness and sustainability, mirroring Thailand’s growing illustration scene.
Creative Boom reports on a new fashion illustration workshop coming to Manchester on 28 May 2026, led by illustrators Elyse Blackshaw and Daria Stephenson. The event will focus on live drawing techniques, creative expression, and experimentation with materials. Both artists aim to inspire participants to explore fashion illustration regardless of their background or experience.
Creative Boom features a collaboration between luxury fashion brand Jimmy Choo and paper-cut artist Helen Musselwhite for the 2026 Bon Bon handbag collection. Musselwhite’s intricate paper artwork, 'Jimmy’s Garden', inspired four seasonal handbags and accompanying in-store displays. The project highlights the fusion of handcrafted artistry with high-end fashion design.
The article profiles Swedish illustrator and animation director Linn Fritz, known for her playful and positive visual style. It explores her collaborations with major brands like Nike and Fjällräven, her co-founding of the Panimation community, and her evolving practice that now includes analogue media. The piece highlights her philosophy of joy and creativity as a counterbalance to productivity-driven culture.
Creative Boom’s feature spotlights Passion Paris Studio’s animated collaboration with Korn and Blizzard for Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. Directed by Philippe Guyenne, the project merges 2D animation with live-action performance to evoke a dark, expressionist world inspired by Gothic architecture and 1980s fantasy. The film’s gestural, imperfect aesthetic mirrors the chaos and intensity of both the game and the band’s music.
Creative Boom profiles German illustrator Pia Salzer, whose vibrant, expressive work celebrates the beauty of everyday life. After studying in Nuremberg and working in Berlin, she went freelance in 2025, gaining recognition for her personal and commissioned projects. Her digital illustrations, rooted in traditional media, explore themes of feminism, emotion, and connection.
The article profiles New York artist Brandon Sines and his upcoming exhibition 'Let's Be Frank' at Cycol Gallery. The show features an eight-foot sculpture of his character Frank Ape, alongside paintings, an immersive installation, and a stop-motion animation. Sines reflects on the creative process and the themes of connection, empathy, and everyday inspiration that drive his work.
Animator Alistair Nicholls created a playful stop-motion short titled 'Couchella' for Coachella, commissioned by RW Media to promote the festival’s livestream. Using plasticine and an improvised sculpting process, Nicholls crafted quirky, colourful characters that embody the energy of live music. The piece highlights his handmade aesthetic and instinctive approach to animation.
Creative Boom’s feature on Animade marks the London animation studio’s 16th anniversary, exploring how its founders Ed Barrett, Tom Judd, and Jen Judd have sustained and evolved the company through industry challenges. The article highlights Animade’s refreshed branding, its focus on character-driven motion, and its enduring relationships with major tech clients like Apple, Meta, Google, and LEGO. It also shares insights on resilience, collaboration, and adapting to new animation technologies and formats.
Creative Boom profiles illustrator Tania Herrero and her new folk horror tabletop RPG, Fomoria, co-created with designer Johan Nohr. The article explores the game's eerie aesthetic, handmade approach, and detailed world-building rooted in folklore and horror. It highlights the project's success on Kickstarter and its commitment to human-made creativity over AI tools.
Creative Boom profiles Greek illustrator Alexis Marcou and his personal project 'Afters', a series of digitally rendered drawings that merge dessert imagery with scenes of human conflict. The work reinterprets Delft ceramic patterns to explore themes of indulgence, destruction, and the human psyche. The article also details Marcou’s process, tools, and reflections on moving from commercial sports illustration to more conceptual personal work.
Creative Boom profiles veteran designer Andy Vella’s poster series for the Teenage Cancer Trust 2026 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The project, curated by Robert Smith of The Cure, features six gig posters and art prints for each performing band, unified by Vella’s energetic collage style and a custom distressed typeface. The artworks were screen-printed at White Duck Editions, with proceeds supporting the charity’s work with young people.
Creative Boom profiles illustrator Tim McDonagh and his work on the updated edition of *Star Wars: Galactic Atlas*, originally commissioned by Egmont Publishing. The article explores his process, from hand-drawn sketches to digital finishing in Photoshop, and how he expanded the atlas to include new Star Wars content. McDonagh reflects on his lifelong fandom and the joy of revisiting the galaxy through detailed, organic illustrations.
Creative Boom profiles Liverpool-based illustrator Craig Boylan and his signature character Baumann, a modular 'plastic man' inspired by Bauhaus design principles. Boylan explains how Baumann has become central to his illustration style, appearing in editorial and branding work for BBC Science Focus and Verdant Brewery, and how he plans to expand the concept into physical art toys and zines.
Creative Boom profiles illustrator Dan Woodger’s Run London/Draw London project, which merges his passion for running with illustration to raise funds for Oxfam during the London Marathon. Donors can pledge to have themselves drawn into a large map of the marathon route, with the final artwork to be released as a signed print. The initiative blends community participation, digital art, and charity fundraising.
Creative Boom’s feature by Garrick Webster spotlights five illustrators redefining contemporary book cover design: Marianna Tomaselli, Sarah J Coleman, Amanda Howell Whitehurst, Dawn XT Yang, and Rohan Eason. The article explores their creative processes, stylistic influences, and how the resurgence of reading culture and social media trends like BookTok are fueling demand for distinctive cover art.
Creative Boom profiles Shropshire-based illustrator Emily Hare and her upcoming book 'Savage Strangehollow', the fourth in her self-created fantasy series. The article explores her imaginative watercolor world, her creative process, and how the Strangehollow universe helped her establish a distinctive artistic voice. Funded via Kickstarter, the project continues Hare’s independent publishing journey blending folklore, whimsy, and detailed craftsmanship.
Creative Boom profiles Brooklyn-based motion designer Daniel Savage and his studio Something Savage, exploring his unique use of pen plotters to create motion graphics that blend analog imperfection with digital precision. The article highlights his editorial and self-initiated projects, including his 2025 monograph with Vetro Books that integrates augmented reality. Savage’s process embraces unpredictability and texture, bridging the gap between handmade and machine-made aesthetics.
Creative Boom profiles London-based illustrator Jake Hawkins, exploring his conceptual approach to editorial illustration and his work for major publications like The Economist, The Guardian, and Gay Times. The article highlights his focus on queer themes, metaphor-driven visuals, and the balance between speed and creativity in editorial contexts. It also touches on his tools, process, and personal inspirations.
Creative Boom’s 2025 year-end feature by Garrick Webster explores six emerging illustration trends for 2026, based on insights from artists and agents worldwide. The article highlights a renewed focus on handcrafted techniques, authentic storytelling, stylised realism, and experimental aesthetics that merge traditional craft with new technologies like AI and VR. Agencies such as CIA, IllustrationX, Illozoo, and Pocko share how illustrators are adapting to a changing creative landscape.
Creative Boom interviews Liverpool-based illustrator Yufei Yang, the artist behind Rainbow Draws, whose travel-inspired work blends Eastern and Western influences. She discusses her process, tools, and inspirations, including her editorial commissions for Condé Nast Traveller and a new project for National Museums Liverpool. The feature highlights her experimental approach combining digital and traditional techniques with a focus on curiosity and cultural diversity.
Creative Boom profiles French illustrator Franki Domino, the AI-driven alter ego of digital collage artist Julien Pacaud. Based in Paris, Domino uses tools like Midjourney, Nano Banana, and Flux to craft surreal, cinematic imagery that bridges human sensitivity and machine generation. His work, including the short film 'Cult Zero' and a poster for Les Siestes Teriaki, explores new aesthetic possibilities for AI in art.
Creative Boom profiles PRIEST’s new exhibition 'Paper Cut' at London’s Saatchi Gallery, which uses childlike materials and naive aesthetics to explore serious social issues affecting young people. The show features large-scale installations made from everyday craft materials, addressing themes such as homelessness, crime, and corporate influence on children. The article also highlights PRIEST’s self-taught background and independent rise in the art world.
Passion Pictures has released a new Christmas animation titled 'Papa' for Swiss supermarket Migros, directed by Kyra Buschor and Constantin Paeplow. The film continues the story of Finn, a beloved elf character, exploring themes of family, time, and renewal through tactile CG animation. Produced with Stories AG and agency Wirz Werbung AG, the project blends handcrafted textures with live-action footage for an emotive festive campaign.
Creative Boom profiles 'Trumpy Trump', a satirical card game by designer Graham Johnson that humorously critiques US President Donald Trump. The game features illustrated cards rating Trump’s traits and draws on political cartoon aesthetics. Johnson, now based in Gloucestershire, is launching his new studio Elsewhere Trading Co after a long career in advertising.
Creative Boom profiles Liverpool-based illustrator Luke McConkey, whose upbeat, cartoon-inspired style has attracted major clients like Nike, Costa Coffee, and the LA Times. The article explores his journey from design agencies to full-time illustration, his inspirations from 1990s animation and ligne claire, and his mission to spread positivity through art. Represented by Handsome Frank, McConkey’s work blends humour, colour, and optimism across editorial, commercial, and cultural projects.
Creative Boom features 'Shibu’s Tail', a new children’s book written by Tess Thomas and illustrated by Malaysian artist Kamwei Fong. The story follows a cat named Shibu whose expressive tail becomes a metaphor for emotion and creativity. The article highlights Fong’s meticulous hand-drawn technique and the collaboration’s heartfelt origin story.
Creative Boom profiles Bristol-based artist Matthew Callaby, known as MrCallaby, whose colourful, cartoon-inspired paintings and sculptures explore emotional and social themes. His latest exhibition, CHEERS, held in London, examines the highs and lows of social drinking through vibrant and monochrome works. The feature highlights his evolving artistic voice and process of developing layered acrylic pieces and sculptural characters.
Creative Boom’s feature 'Buena ondo!' spotlights five Latin American illustrators—Beatriz Gutiérrez Hernández, Mel Cerri, Axel Rangel Garcia, Bruna Kater, and Ana Moreno—whose work embodies the region’s cultural richness and vibrant energy. The article explores how each artist draws from their heritage to create distinctive, colorful, and expressive illustration styles. It highlights their tools, influences, and the growing global recognition of Latin American creativity.
Creative Boom profiles illustrator Peilin Li, whose geometric and folk-inspired style captures the warmth and beauty of everyday life. The article explores her journey toward finding her artistic voice, her award-winning recognition, and collaborations with major brands like Disney and Huawei. Li discusses her evolving practice that now includes motion design and digital experimentation.
Creative Boom profiles New Orleans-based illustrator Hoi Chan, exploring his luminous, nature-inspired artworks that merge organic textures and emotional storytelling. The article discusses his evolution since moving from China and New York, his use of colour and light, and his collaborations with clients like The New York Times and Figma. Chan also shares insights into his creative process and the personal symbolism behind his pieces.
Creative Boom profiles animator Qian-Hui Yu and her solo exhibition 'The Delightful Unnamed' at Pocko Gallery in London. The feature explores her hand-drawn short film 'The Statue in the Garden', created with Animate Projects and supported by BFI Network and Film Hub Midlands, alongside her ceramic and mixed-media works inspired by Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery heritage. The article highlights her cross-disciplinary approach blending animation, ceramics, and illustration.
Creative Boom interviews Berlin-based illustrator Isabel Seliger about her dream commission for The Folio Society’s edition of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 'Klara and the Sun'. Seliger discusses her process, from reading the novel multiple times to creating atmospheric digital illustrations that capture the story’s poetic tone. The article also explores her broader editorial work for The New Yorker and The New York Times and her reflections on maintaining a personal style in the age of AI.
Creative Boom features Dorset-based illustrator Fee Greening and her new illustrated edition of 'Briggs's Dictionary of Fairies', published by Monoray. The project revives Katharine Briggs's classic folklore text with 90 hand-drawn dip pen illustrations, blending medieval inspiration with Greening’s signature style. The article explores her creative process, challenges, and passion for mythological subjects.
Creative Boom profiles Sheffield-based animator Dale Crosby-Close and his new animated series, Bitsville. Expanding on his earlier short films, the 10-minute episodes build a surreal, comedic world filled with eccentric characters and deadpan humour. The article explores his creative process, tools, and growing confidence as an independent content creator.
Creative Boom features Brazilian illustrator Gus Morais and his work on 'Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search & Find Biographies', a richly detailed illustrated book exploring the pop star’s career through 11 eras. The article highlights Morais’s process, from sketching in Procreate to finishing in Photoshop, and his creative approach to capturing each album’s visual identity. It also notes the book’s playful design details and his upcoming Halloween-themed project.
Creative Boom profiles illustrator Leah Han, whose work celebrates modern femininity through serene, introspective depictions of women. Drawing on both Eastern and Western influences, Han combines digital and traditional techniques to create tranquil yet expressive imagery. Her projects include collaborations with CASEKOO and the Shanghai MGM Bund Hotel, with her piece 'Nomad's Garden' shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2025.
Creative Boom features London-based illustrator Scarlett Yang and her project 'Goddess's Revelation', a tarot-inspired series exploring the roles and expectations of women in Chinese society. The digital paintings, created in Procreate, reinterpret traditional idioms and cultural symbols to critique patriarchy and evolving feminist ideals. The project follows her award-winning piece 'The New Goddess' and continues Yang’s exploration of female identity through art and spirituality.
Creative Boom interviews illustrator Sharon King-Chai about her new children's book series, Mirror Magic. The books use mirror board pages and tactile illustrations to engage babies and toddlers, including those with visual impairments. King-Chai discusses her creative process, materials, and the emotional impact of her work on young readers.
Creative Boom profiles Manchester-based pattern designer Patricia Shea, whose studio Design Confections merges hand-painted motifs with digital tools and print-on-demand platforms. Known for her maximalist, whimsical style, Shea discusses her creative process, the impact of AI on artists, and her move toward teaching and selling handmade originals. The article highlights her career journey from New York fashion to global online sales.
Creative Boom profiles We Three Club’s new book '2 or 3 Colours', a retrospective celebrating 15 years of the Cambridgeshire studio’s screen-printed gig posters. Founders Christopher and Alex White reflect on their DIY beginnings, collaborations with major bands, and the tactile artistry of limited-colour printing. The book marks both a milestone and a new chapter for the studio.
Creative Boom reports on The Folio Society’s deluxe reprint of George Orwell’s 'Animal Farm', featuring new illustrations and lettering by Quentin Blake. The edition includes 27 monochrome artworks, a wraparound cover, and a linen-bound slipcase with gold foil details. Blake’s expressive style brings new life to Orwell’s political allegory while maintaining the book’s satirical tone.
Creative Boom reports on The Folio Society’s deluxe reprint of George Orwell’s 'Animal Farm', featuring new illustrations and lettering by Quentin Blake. The edition includes 27 monochrome artworks, a linen-bound cover, and gold foil details, combining Blake’s expressive style with Orwell’s political allegory. The project celebrates British illustration and fine bookmaking craftsmanship.
Creative Boom profiles North Wales-based illustrator Yvie Johnson, whose vibrant and emotionally layered work explores mythology, mental health, and accessibility. Despite living with ME, she continues to create digital and traditional illustrations, including a 2022 commission for Women Enabled International. The article highlights her advocacy for inclusive design and her ongoing creative projects inspired by Welsh folklore and personal experience.
The article profiles Berlin-based illustrator Marc Majewski, exploring how he rediscovered his artistic voice by abandoning classical training to embrace a freer, more joyful painting style. It discusses his award-winning children's books such as 'Butterfly Child' and 'As Edward Imagined', his inspirations from nature and childhood, and his ongoing creative philosophy. The piece highlights his success in children's publishing and his commitment to authenticity and emotional storytelling.
French illustrator Jean Jullien has unveiled 'Osaka Kaiju', a monumental whale-like sculpture for the France Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka. The installation, created with AD Japan and Nanzuka, explores ocean mythology and environmental themes through hand-painted illustrations. The project also features music by Nicolas Jullien and collaborations with the Tara Ocean Foundation, AXA, and Cofrex.
Creative Boom profiles Madrid-based Bertone Studio, founded by Eduardo Bertone and Michiyo Sato, whose hand-drawn animations blend psychedelic and folk art influences. Drawing from their Argentine and Japanese roots, the duo creates intricate frame-by-frame works for clients like McDonald's, Honda, and Adidas while maintaining a devotion to handmade craft over AI tools.
Creative Boom profiles Vietnamese illustrator Hoang Giang, whose picture book 'Flower Block' has earned multiple awards and critical acclaim. The article explores her journey from economics student to celebrated children's illustrator, her adaptive artistic approach, and her ongoing projects with UK publishers. It highlights her personal comic series and her reflections on storytelling and community.
The article profiles German photographer Jan von Holleben’s large-scale community art project 'Rainbow Robot Space Ice', created with 489 schoolchildren for the Horizonte Zingst photography festival. The project explores themes of environmental resources and imagination through playful, collaborative photo compositions. The resulting images will be exhibited on the beach in Zingst and later in Berlin, accompanied by a documentary film.
Creative Boom profiles Manchester-based muralist Oskar Walin, known professionally as Oskar With a K, whose large-scale hand-painted lettering projects aim to bring communities together. The article explores his process, materials, and collaborations on projects for Manchester City Council, the Electoral Commission, and Stockport County FC. It highlights his focus on social impact, community workshops, and bold, graphic mural design.