Illustration
Metamorphosis
As we celebrate our 2026 exhibition, we are witnessing our graduates’ profound transition from students, into becoming professional illustrators.
They have come far since the start of their academic studies, and we are immensely proud of how much they have grown. It is this natural progression that we are celebrating in our Metamorphosis Exhibition.
The work presented showcases their incredible craft skills and diversity of approaches, which have materialised in an enviable collection of contemporary illustration. Their exploratory journey from research to concept has culminated in a diverse set of outcomes that include set design, packaging, advertising, virtual environments, character design, model making, moving image, narrative, editorial, and book illustration. These have been explored through a multitude of media, including digital, traditional, and physical iterations. It is their outstanding artworks that clearly demonstrate that in the light of change, they can make all the right choices.
Our Work
Beth grew up in the rural Amman Valley, surrounded by vast natural landscapes and forgotten, derelict buildings. Exploring this environment inspired an interest in eerie, unusual, and gothic themes, which are often depicted in their illustrations.
Their style adopts a simplistic and minimal approach, blending lines and dots with a bold use of blocks of black and white space. By utilising these elements, they create striking, eye-catching outcomes without relying on colour.
Marly is an illustrator whose work celebrates femininity through a soft, elegant, and empowering lens. Working with a palette of pinks and pastels, she creates imagery that is both delicate and bold, evoking joy, confidence, and emotional uplift.
Her practice is rooted in themes of identity, feminism, and self-expression, with the aim of helping viewers feel seen and empowered. Through thoughtful composition and gentle detail, Marly crafts illustrations that balance strength with sensitivity, forming a distinctive visual language that is both uplifting and unapologetically feminine.
Lauren is an illustrator based in Gorseinon who primarily works digitally using Procreate. She has a strong interest in character creation and character-led illustration, developing visual narratives inspired by her favourite media.
Her work often features muted, harmonious colour palettes designed to be gentle and pleasing to the eye. Lauren aims to create characters and stories that others can enjoy, while also using them as a way to explore personal interests such as Dungeons & Dragons, the sea, dinosaurs, and many other imaginative themes.
Morgan is a digital artist based in South Wales who explores the hidden beauty in often overlooked subjects. Working with a bright, vibrant colour palette, she transforms everyday forms into striking visual experiences.
Her current work focuses on insects, inspired by their intricate details and misunderstood nature. Through her art, Morgan invites viewers to reconsider their feelings, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the small, complex, and often ignored elements of the natural world.
Paige is an illustrator who lives in the valleys of South Wales, an area rich in diverse flora and fauna. She has always been surrounded by the Welsh landscape, living amongst forests and mountains, with hidden lakes and secluded spaces that have sparked her imagination.
She has always enjoyed experimenting with different media and techniques, discovering and developing her artistic voice. Paige is passionate about character design, animation, and the art of graphic novels - genres that inform her own illustrative style.
Anna is an illustrator and printmaker based in Cardiff, where they share a studio with their partner, Meg, and their two cats, Fig and Earl, who are often muses to their work.
Beginning their academic journey in mathematics and biomedical sciences, Anna later pursued a passion for creativity, with their scientific background continuing to influence their work through themes of the natural world and visual illusion.
A month studying in China further shaped their practice and visual language. Anna now translates their work into printmaking, specialising in screen printing, lino, and risograph.
Vynn is a traditional artist whose love of fantasy and storytelling began in childhood as a means of escaping stress. As they grew older, drawing became a way to express both personal interests and ideas. Their work focuses on weaving narrative into imagery, whether through a single illustration or a comic.
Vynn primarily works with gouache and watercolour, valuing their layerable qualities and soft matte textures, which allow ideas to evolve and be added to during the painting process. They want the viewer to be drawn into their illustrations and the narratives presented therein.
Alicia is an illustrator and self-described “feelings drawer,” using illustration to express emotions that are often difficult to articulate. Her work features small, unusual creatures, particularly cats, drawn from her lifelong bond with her soul cat, Puss. Exploring themes of self-identity, neurodivergence, and mental health, she has developed a distinctive visual style through years of making art as an emotional outlet.
Daria is a digital illustrator whose work centres on themes of wellness and wellbeing. Her style blends influences from Japanese anime and Western cartoons, combining digital processes with a traditional feel through the use of texture and pencil-like markings.
She creates expressive, energetic characters using bright colours, dynamic compositions, and text-rich backgrounds. Daria’s practice aims to promote confidence and positivity, particularly self-belief. Drawing how she feels is central to her work, and she hopes her illustrations leave viewers feeling uplifted and encouraged.
Morgan was drawn early on to supporting, directing, and developing her own creative practice, encouraged by her peers. Her work explores bold colour and unexpected combinations, blending the natural world with a surreal sensibility.
While her storyboarding focuses on an expressionistic mood, her illustrations embrace dream imagery, psychic automatism, and uncanny juxtapositions drawn from surrealism. These elements are balanced through careful composition and framing inspired by early Renaissance art, inviting viewers to slow down and reconnect with the natural world and their own imagination.
Rhys is an aspiring comic book illustrator with a strong passion for incorporating narrative into almost every piece they produce. Storytelling lies at the heart of their practice, guiding both character design and visual composition to create work that feels dynamic and engaging.
Drawing inspiration from illustrators such as Skottie Young and Jamie Hewlett, Rhys aims to create expressive, playful characters and imaginative scenarios that are full of energy. Through this approach, Rhys seeks to craft visually compelling stories that invite viewers into richly animated worlds.
Lleaud is a charcoal-based illustrator whose practice explores themes of social perception, nature, and transition. Their work combines careful observational drawing with strong conceptual thinking, resulting in intricate and reflective imagery inspired by everyday experiences and the natural world. Previous projects include a venom-inspired mural for Plantasia, a curlew illustration for Wildlife Artist of the Year, and the reimagining of sanitary product packaging. Lleaud’s current focus is on using illustration as a tool to communicate social and environmental change and encourage meaningful reflection.
Morgan grew up inspired by nature and the world around her, spending hours listening to stories about dragons and other fantastical creatures that allowed her imagination to run wild. Today, she channels that early sense of wonder into vibrant, colourful environments that capture the magic of faraway worlds.
Beginning her artistic journey with pen and paper, Morgan has since dedicated many years to developing her digital painting practice. Through countless hours of study and an ever-growing collection of “Art Of…” books, she continues to refine her technique, blending traditional foundations with contemporary digital skills.
Emily’s days are spent with a pencil in one hand and a monster in the other. Drawn to dark themes, her work captures the viewer’s curiosity, inviting them to look closely without wanting to look away. She enjoys communicating through imagery rather than words, bringing her ideas to life through mixed-media practices.
While Emily favours a darker colour palette, she is not afraid to incorporate brighter tones when a piece calls for contrast. Her practice ranges from simple digital works to large-scale acrylic paintings.
Exhibition Gallery
