Tell us about yourself and your creative background
I am a BA illustration graduate from the Class of 2022 at The University of South Wales, Cardiff. I am originally from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and moved to Cardiff for my studies, and I've lived here since!
I love creating children's picture book illustrations and am currently working on illustrating an original picture book I have written. I have also participated in other creative projects, such as A Dog's Trail South Wales (in partnership with Wild in Art, Peanuts and Dog's Trust Cardiff), where I illustrated my own design onto a Snoopy sculpture which the public coloured in before being auctioned off to raise money for Dog's Trust. I love working with charities and using my illustrations to promote different causes.
How would you describe your work?
I love to use mixed media - usually inks and watercolour textures within digital drawings - to create vibrant and diverse illustrations for different projects. I always have people at the heart of my work, and I love to use my voice as an illustrator to raise awareness for topics that are important to me - especially things like mental health and wellbeing. As an openly queer and autistic illustrator, I also ensure my work does its best to represent the diversity of our world to promote inclusivity and equality.
Tell us about your design for this commission
My design is inspired by Cardiff's green spaces, historic landscapes, and sense of community. The shape of Creative Cardiff's Logo made me think of the beautiful landscaping work of Friary Gardens. I was inspired to create a lively illustration depicting the historical, contemporary and diverse community spirit that is an integral part of Cardiff's culture, using the logo to represent a real-life area of Cardiff where many people go to relax and unwind. I wanted to include as many iconic features of Cardiff as possible using details that people might not spot at first glance.
What does Cardiff mean to you?
Cardiff is a hugely important place to me as it is where I found what inspires me as an illustrator and has led me to meet many people who have become a massive part of my life, including my partner. It is also where I spent away from home during the pandemic, which was a new and challenging life experience, especially living independently for the first time. Cardiff's sense of community spirit is one of the main reasons I decided to stay here after my studies. It has become my new home and holds many fond memories for me.
Alison's poster
