My name is Orla, and I live with my family on the south coast of the UK near Chichester.
I am a student illustrator currently studying a BA in Illustration at the University of Portsmouth. Prior to that I spent three years studying Illustration, Art & Design at Northbrook College in Worthing.
There has never been a time when I have not been drawing and have wanted to be an illustrator since I was eight years old and my Mum, (also an Illustrator) me my first comics. From as early as I can remember I have been creating and been continually encouraged to do so. I started to draw my own small comics based on my own characters. As the years went on, my love of comics never diminished and grew to include not just western comics, but also Southeast Asian Manga and Manhua; I focused on Illustrator/authors like Takahiko Inoue, Masashi Kishimoto and Kohei Horikoshi, who are all independent manga illustrators creating art for their own stories, which is ultimately what I want to do in the future. Their work has influenced my style and what media I use quite a bit. One day I hope my work will inspire other children, the way I was inspired all those years ago.
I tend to prefer using traditional media like pens, markers and coloured pencils. My art style is clean and precise, incorporating line work, cross hatching and some stippling. I also use Procreate, and I find it an intuitive and useful tool which reflects my preferred style of drawing very well. Narrative and sequential illustration are my main focuses, but I also produce other types of work, such as abstracts, and both graphic and character design.
My hobbies and interests include: books, comics, anime/manga, C-Drama, K-Drama, fan-fiction + writing, rollerskating and swimming.
If you would like to know more about the things that inspire my art and writing then take a look at my Inspiration and Interests page. :)
LINKS:
Art Blog
Writing Blog
Spreadshirt Shop