CLUSTER ILLUSTRATION SHOP

ILLUSTRATION JOURNAL

CLUSTER ILLUSTRATION FAIR

Why did you become an illustrator?

As a child I was always drawing. My mother was also very artistic, and came from a very artistic family of painters, sculptors, and tailors. After high school I chose to study Comics and Illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, although I have to admit I didn’t really know what it entailed as a career!

What inspires you in your work?

Music is a huge passion for me, and much of my work depicts musicians performing. I usually show figures lost in a moment of reverie, with their eyes closed – I’m seeking to observe and transmit that moment of focus, and of joy.

What brought you to London? Had you always wanted to live in the city?

The decision to move to London was really quite spontaneous: a friend had decided to move to the city, and asked me to come with her. It happened a few months after my mother passed away, and moving to a new country and city was an important part of the healing process, and of rediscovering myself.


How did you find London?

Overwhelming, but in a fantastic way - there was so much to do, so many events taking place, so much energy, particularly in East London, where I now live. The friend that I accompanied here left London after three days, but I loved it, and have been here ever since. I could live here forever!

Did you begin working as an illustrator immediately?

Initially I got a job as an au pair; later I did a course in Graphic Design, and began working as a graphic designer at the same time as studying for an MA in Illustration at Kingston University.

How was your experience of the MA course?

Very different to the university system in Italy, and far more self-driven! But overall a very positive experience, and looking back I wish I had undertaken it earlier.

I actually broke my hand two months after graduation, and it took a further eight months for it to recover enough for me to begin illustrating again. When I did, I had to adapt my technique, and moved from very intricate drawing to more digital work, incorporating watercolour textures and brighter colours into my illustrations.

Although it felt like a disaster at the time, my accident actually had a positive outcome, as it helped me to find my own style. When I had a portfolio review through the Association of Illustrators, I was even told that my new work was more attractive, so there was a silver lining after all!

How did you establish your career in the city?

Many of my projects have been collaborations with musicians, creating album covers, video animations, and posters, and came about through friends and personal recommendations. I also found an agent [Simona is represented by Illo Agency], which gave me access to new clients. A year after graduating from my MA I exhibited with Cluster Illustration at Ugly Duck. The fair was a perfect size, big but not too big, and through it I sold all of the works that I exhibited there, and at its second edition in 2019.

What advice would you give illustrators thinking of relocating to London?

London offers many opportunities, but also many people seeking those opportunities, so come with enthusiasm, but be prepared to work hard to find opportunities for yourself. Moving to the city can be a fantastic experience – be open, and speak to everyone! Unlike other places, you don’t have to follow one particular style here, you can find your own path to self- expression.

Learn more about Simona De Leo via her website here, and follow her on Instagram @simona_deleo_illustrator. Her work can be purchased via her arts print shop here.