Home | Katie Illustration

top of page

Katie Grant Illustration

My soul-cat/muse/son turned 10 years old today and I can’t believe it. He’s seen me through so many stages in life - from the little kitten that I hung my entire mental health on when I lived in Sweden to the grumpy old man who rules the house today.

A whole decade of the most beautiful cat in the world.

My soul-cat/muse/son turned 10 years old today and I can’t believe it. He’s seen me through so many stages in life - from the little kitten that I hung my entire mental health on when I lived in Sweden to the grumpy old man who rules the house today.

A whole decade of the most beautiful cat in the world.

Some random Sketchbook/experiment things from the past couple of months. Feat. Skippy’s paw print. This was for my research into Medieval illuminated manuscripts.

I haven’t worked any of these up into proper finished illustrations yet. But watch this space… 👀

#illustration #medieval #medievalilluminations

Some random Sketchbook/experiment things from the past couple of months. Feat. Skippy’s paw print. This was for my research into Medieval illuminated manuscripts.

I haven’t worked any of these up into proper finished illustrations yet. But watch this space… 👀

#illustration #medieval #medievalilluminations

1. You don’t have to be ‘ready’ to go. It’s valuable place to learn, see where you might fit in in the industry, meet up with illustrator friends, buy books and zines you’d never find anywhere else. Go there with the aim to get inspired and you’ll have a successful trip.

2. It doesn’t just happen at the fair. The city is buzzing with illustration. There are so many exhibitions open in the evening (I found an exhibition crawl and ended up going to 10 in one night!!) You might end up having dinner next to your illustrator idol or a big publisher. Don’t just go from your hotel to the fair, there’s so much more to see.

3. You don’t have to get on those crowded buses if you don’t want to. The fair is very much walkable (it took me 25 minutes to walk there and we were staying within the city itself). In my experience the bus took longer. Just make sure you are wearing comfy shoes!

4. Arrange to meet up with friends, but book restaurants in advance. It’s hard to rock up and ask for a table for 10 😅. But debriefing with friends each day was one of my favourite parts of the trip. If you don’t have illustrator pals yet - we are a friendly bunch and instagram is a great place to start making them!

5. Pack light - you are going to want to buy ALOT.

#bolognabookfair #childrensbookillustration #illustration

1. You don’t have to be ‘ready’ to go. It’s valuable place to learn, see where you might fit in in the industry, meet up with illustrator friends, buy books and zines you’d never find anywhere else. Go there with the aim to get inspired and you’ll have a successful trip.

2. It doesn’t just happen at the fair. The city is buzzing with illustration. There are so many exhibitions open in the evening (I found an exhibition crawl and ended up going to 10 in one night!!) You might end up having dinner next to your illustrator idol or a big publisher. Don’t just go from your hotel to the fair, there’s so much more to see.

3. You don’t have to get on those crowded buses if you don’t want to. The fair is very much walkable (it took me 25 minutes to walk there and we were staying within the city itself). In my experience the bus took longer. Just make sure you are wearing comfy shoes!

4. Arrange to meet up with friends, but book restaurants in advance. It’s hard to rock up and ask for a table for 10 😅. But debriefing with friends each day was one of my favourite parts of the trip. If you don’t have illustrator pals yet - we are a friendly bunch and instagram is a great place to start making them!

5. Pack light - you are going to want to buy ALOT.

#bolognabookfair #childrensbookillustration #illustration

Waiting for my flight and digesting my very first visit to Bologna Book Fair.

What a crazy few days of friends, art, an oddly jfk themed hotel room and learning so so so much. I’m excited (and nervous) for when I’ll be exhibiting my graduating projects there next year. But I’m leaving full of inspiration and excited to get back and start on my masters projects.

Thank you to all my illustrations pals for making it so much fun!

#bolognabookfair #illustration #bologna

Waiting for my flight and digesting my very first visit to Bologna Book Fair.

What a crazy few days of friends, art, an oddly jfk themed hotel room and learning so so so much. I’m excited (and nervous) for when I’ll be exhibiting my graduating projects there next year. But I’m leaving full of inspiration and excited to get back and start on my masters projects.

Thank you to all my illustrations pals for making it so much fun!

#bolognabookfair #illustration #bologna

You don’t need all the equipment to make the art. This is your sign to just try it out with the beginners stuff and see how it goes.

I work all day and don’t have access to the print room.

I don’t have a press so I hand burnish.

I know I need a bigger roller for my ink but budget is tight atm, so I’m working with what I have.

It’s winter evenings so lighting is rubbish.

I had fun and made it anyway!

#printing #illustration #medieval #reliefprint

You don’t need all the equipment to make the art. This is your sign to just try it out with the beginners stuff and see how it goes.

I work all day and don’t have access to the print room.

I don’t have a press so I hand burnish.

I know I need a bigger roller for my ink but budget is tight atm, so I’m working with what I have.

It’s winter evenings so lighting is rubbish.

I had fun and made it anyway!

#printing #illustration #medieval #reliefprint

Snippet from last term on @csacbi where I created a graphic novel around the adventures of Brother Bruno and his Mandrake pal.

I would actually like to comeback to this project at some point, play around with the artwork a bit more and fully realise the story.

#illustration #comic #csacbi

Snippet from last term on @csacbi where I created a graphic novel around the adventures of Brother Bruno and his Mandrake pal.

I would actually like to comeback to this project at some point, play around with the artwork a bit more and fully realise the story.

#illustration #comic #csacbi

Same but different - repeating the same illustration in different materials for my research and review module.

#illustration #medieval #gouache

Same but different - repeating the same illustration in different materials for my research and review module.

#illustration #medieval #gouache

An illustration I’m playing around with for my research and review module - based on how to be inspired by medieval manuscripts.

#illustration #medieval

An illustration I’m playing around with for my research and review module - based on how to be inspired by medieval manuscripts.

#illustration #medieval

Glittery Lino printing the frog prince.

#illustration #linoprint #printing

Glittery Lino printing the frog prince.

#illustration #linoprint #printing

I’ve had a lot of fun researching my project this term.

#medieval #puzzlewood #mappamundi #illustration #sketchbook

I’ve had a lot of fun researching my project this term.

#medieval #puzzlewood #mappamundi #illustration #sketchbook

It’s almost the end of my third term at @csacbi 😬. In honour of me trying to organise and digitise all my things. Here’s an experiment from my sketchbook I liked but won’t actually make it to a finished illustration form (for hand in at least)

#sketchbook #illustration

It’s almost the end of my third term at @csacbi 😬. In honour of me trying to organise and digitise all my things. Here’s an experiment from my sketchbook I liked but won’t actually make it to a finished illustration form (for hand in at least)

#sketchbook #illustration

With mid-module review fast approaching 😬- here is some observational drawing from the very beginning of the term.

#sketchbook #observationaldrawing

With mid-module review fast approaching 😬- here is some observational drawing from the very beginning of the term.

#sketchbook #observationaldrawing

Something I made back in July after hanging round lots of @nationaltrust houses.

#illustration #blackandwhiteillustration #bird #nationaltrust

Something I made back in July after hanging round lots of @nationaltrust houses.

#illustration #blackandwhiteillustration #bird #nationaltrust

Drawing in public is not for the weak. Everyone’s a critic or just downright confused about why you are staring at something and scribbling into a little book.

#observationaldrawing #sketchbook #illustration

Drawing in public is not for the weak. Everyone’s a critic or just downright confused about why you are staring at something and scribbling into a little book.

#observationaldrawing #sketchbook #illustration

We went back to school for my second year as a part-time children’s book illustration student this week! It’s a long ass day but I’m so happy to see my @csacbi buddies again!

#student #illustration

We went back to school for my second year as a part-time children’s book illustration student this week! It’s a long ass day but I’m so happy to see my @csacbi buddies again!

#student #illustration

Storybook

#cottagecore #illustration #observationaldrawing #autumn

Storybook

#cottagecore #illustration #observationaldrawing #autumn

Scanned in some more random pages from my sketchbook. Been a bit obsessed with my @carandache #neocolor2 at the moment so every one of these images include those at least in part.

#sketchbook #observationaldrawing #illustration

Scanned in some more random pages from my sketchbook. Been a bit obsessed with my @carandache #neocolor2 at the moment so every one of these images include those at least in part.

#sketchbook #observationaldrawing #illustration

Sketching in the cathedral feels like meditating

#observationaldrawing #sketchbook #illustration

Sketching in the cathedral feels like meditating

#observationaldrawing #sketchbook #illustration

Spying on people in my car. #observationaldrawing #sketchbooks

Spying on people in my car. #observationaldrawing #sketchbooks

Good Night

#Sketchbook #neocolor2 #carandache #gouache #illustration

Good Night

#Sketchbook #neocolor2 #carandache #gouache #illustration

Medieval festivals are great for time travelling observational drawing. Also probably the least amount I’ve ever drawn the attention of passersby when sat drawing in public.

#medieval #observationaldrawing #sketchbook #pencil

Medieval festivals are great for time travelling observational drawing. Also probably the least amount I’ve ever drawn the attention of passersby when sat drawing in public.

#medieval #observationaldrawing #sketchbook #pencil

Just realised I hadn’t shared this page from my sketchbook yet.

#sketchbook #hettyhoover

Just realised I hadn’t shared this page from my sketchbook yet.

#sketchbook #hettyhoover

Finished a sketchbook so here are some random pages - there is zero theme here 😅. #illustration #sketchbook #observationaldrawing #collage #watercolour #pencil

Finished a sketchbook so here are some random pages - there is zero theme here 😅. #illustration #sketchbook #observationaldrawing #collage #watercolour #pencil

Some sketchbook doodlings from the past couple of weeks.

#sketchbook #watercolour #pencilsketches #illustration #illustratorsofinstagram

Some sketchbook doodlings from the past couple of weeks.

#sketchbook #watercolour #pencilsketches #illustration #illustratorsofinstagram

A snapshot of Wimbledon watching this year.

#sketchbook #wimbledon🎾 #illustration #observationaldrawing #tennis

A snapshot of Wimbledon watching this year.

#sketchbook #wimbledon🎾 #illustration #observationaldrawing #tennis

Sister day on Centre court. 8 hours never felt so fast!! 🎾

I will share some @wimbledon sketches soon, but here’s a peak at the extreme sport that is watching tennis during a heatwave. Ft. Percy pigs

#wimbledon🎾 #observationaldrawing #sketching #tennis

Sister day on Centre court. 8 hours never felt so fast!! 🎾

I will share some @wimbledon sketches soon, but here’s a peak at the extreme sport that is watching tennis during a heatwave. Ft. Percy pigs

#wimbledon🎾 #observationaldrawing #sketching #tennis

A couple of bits and bobs from this week. Been a busy week with the new addition to our household!

#illustration #sketchbook #Lifedrawing

A couple of bits and bobs from this week. Been a busy week with the new addition to our household!

#illustration #sketchbook #Lifedrawing

Letterpress induction today!

As someone that struggles with lettering, I’m keen to get back in the print room have a good old play with this dying art form. Hopefully 🤞 it will help improve the rest of my work!

#letterpress #illustration #print #printroom

Letterpress induction today!

As someone that struggles with lettering, I’m keen to get back in the print room have a good old play with this dying art form. Hopefully 🤞 it will help improve the rest of my work!

#letterpress #illustration #print #printroom

Back at work now boo 😭 but had a lovely time in wales! Made this mini #zine towards the end of the holiday sat watching Dan play his new #Switch2

Probably should have made a plan for the images instead of winging it and also used better paper (it was the only large sheet I had on me ). But it was lots of fun and I’ve never made anything like it before. Should I tidy it up a bit and make a neater version?

#illustration #sketchbook

Back at work now boo 😭 but had a lovely time in wales! Made this mini #zine towards the end of the holiday sat watching Dan play his new #Switch2

Probably should have made a plan for the images instead of winging it and also used better paper (it was the only large sheet I had on me ). But it was lots of fun and I’ve never made anything like it before. Should I tidy it up a bit and make a neater version?

#illustration #sketchbook

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow me on Instagram

@katiegrantillustration

bottom of page