10 UK Illustration Graduates to Watch in 2025
Congratulations to this year’s illustration graduates!
The AOI works very closely with universities around the UK and beyond to help support illustration students during their studies and into their freelance careers. In this feature, we celebrate 10 inspiring up and coming illustrators who captured our attention.
This time of year is always an exciting time to celebrate and champion new talent – each of the graduates featured below is forging their own path into the illustration industry, and it’s a joy to watch!
From branding illustrations to picture books, zines and murals, this year’s graduate projects cover an array of interesting applications and a range of thoughtful themes. Explore distinctive characters, themes of representation and equality and finding joy and meaning in the everyday in the various works featured. Be sure to check out their individual portfolios below.
We also share some fantastic tips and insights for graduates from our Resources, and information about how to join us as a member.
Nancy John, Arts University Bournemouth
Nancy John is an illustrator from India and a MA Illustration graduate of Arts University Bournemouth. Her work is character-based and deeply rooted in nostalgia, drawing inspiration from childhood memories, folklore and everyday oddities. Her most recent project, featured here, is called ‘The Neighbours Look Strange at Night’, an accordion-fold book that portrays a series of characters inspired by Indian folklore, blending traditional themes with a playful and contemporary visual style.
Coco Day, Manchester School of Art
Coco Day is an illustrator graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University. In her work, she likes to take serious topics and approach them through a positive lens, using bold shapes, bright colours and playful ideas. She often works digitally but enjoys printmaking, risograph especially. Coco is interested in exploring different areas of the industry in her future work, though is especially focussed on projects related to women in sport, having been involved in sports herself since an early age.
The featured work, ‘Big Girl’, is a poster from her women’s basketball project. About the project, she says: “Women and girls are taught to be small physically and in personality to make room for others (men) so, I wanted to make an image about not being afraid to take charge of your space. This illustration is based on Lindsay Whalen, who is also the focus of the poem I was inspired by”.
Olya Mitchell, Cambridge School of Art
Olya Mitchell is an illustrator and printmaker based in London, and a recent graduate of the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. She enjoys drawing from life as well as playing with colour, texture and shapes in her work, taking inspiration from music, cinematography, vintage illustration and everyday encounters and memories. She mostly works by hand, with pastels, crayons and paint adding textures and building shapes.
The featured work includes two pieces from ‘Dreams and Whiskers’ a personal project inspired by everyday life with her cats, exploring themes of curiosity, sadness and mutual comfort.
Hannah Rogerson, University of Central Lancashire
Hannah Rogerson is a BA Illustration graduate of University of Central Lancashire. Hannah depicts everyday scenes with a romanticised, high-fashion aesthetic, creating visually rich illustrations. Taking inspiration from people and personal style, the characters she creates are intended to feel authentic, bold and unapologetic, reflecting the women and people she meets in everyday life. Lifting women’s voices is integral to her practise, and in many of her projects she aims to encourage young girls to ‘take up space’ in a male dominated world.
Towoqo (Tan Wei Qi), University of the Creative Arts
Towoqo (Tan Wei Qi) is a Singaporean illustrator based in the UK and Singapore, and BA Illustration graduate of University for the Creative Arts. Her work is characterised by the distinct use of brush and ink, taken from traditional Chinese painting techniques. Towoqo is inspired by the world around her, she carries a sketchbook wherever she goes and documents anything that sparks her curiosity. In her work, she aims to tell meaningful stories through each illustration, whether humorous, sad, or joyful.
The featured project is a mural applied to a telephone booth in Tannery Studios, a creative studio space in Woking, which she painted using acrylic, with the aim of brightening and inspiring the day to day life for staff based there.
Khadija Babar, Liverpool John Moores
Khadija Babar is an illustrator based in the North West of England, and a recent BA Graphic Design and Illustration graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. Her practice revolves mainly around South Asian diaspora, having grown up in a Gujarati Muslim area in Preston. She uses zines and paper craft to explore the unique quirks of growing up in a diverse neighbourhood, and to allow others to experience her childhood.
Growing up, she didn’t see many people like herself, a Gujarati Muslim woman, in the creative industry; with her work, she hopes to be able to encourage greater diversity so that others can have the confidence to pursue a similar career.
The featured work, from her project ‘My India’, is from a zine pack based on some of her favourite cities from her first trip to India, and seeks to capture the beauty that is in India and remove the stigma.
Rosie Dunbar, Falmouth University
Rosie Dunbar is a BA Illustration graduate of Falmouth University. She enjoys working conceptually, creating playful, textural images based on interesting concepts, especially those that are meaningful or promote change. She is especially inspired by science fiction and nature.
The featured works include an illustration based on an article about marine fungi (left) and another about museum stock taking (right).
Alice Lila Batten, Edinburgh College of Art
Alice Lila Batten is a recent graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, BA Illustration. Her practice is based around themes of community, culture, interactivity and place. In much of her work, she focusses on children as the central audience but includes themes and subject matter that adults would also be able to enjoy. Collage is central to her work, and she enjoys the practice of creating colourful and textural pieces to cut and stick in a playful manner.
As she embarks on her career, she would love to continue to create pieces where children are the central audience, but also aspires to incorporate sociological and historical research as part of this work, as well as to create merchandise which the work can be applied to. The featured works are two tea towel designs based on British seaside holidays.
Chloe Yasmin, Arts University Plymouth
Chloe Yasmin is an illustrator based in Devon, UK, and a recent BA Illustration graduate of Arts University Plymouth. Her approach is playful, whimsical and open; in her work she is led by the stories around her, particularly growing up in the South West, surrounded by beautiful coast and countryside. She creates children’s books, authorial, and freelance work. People, nature, and storytelling are at the heart of her practice, guided by the affectionate representation of the everyday and embracing her inner child.
Ellie Loren Jones, Swansea College of Art, UWTSD
Recipient of New Designers AOI Illustration Spotlight Award 2025
Ellie was awarded the AOI Illustration Spotlight Award at this year’s New Designers, 2025.
Inspired by nature, wellbeing and mindfulness, Ellie Loren’s visual storytelling is a key element of her creative signature. Her distinctive use of colour and texture brings warmth to her illustrations, with projects ranging from picture books and editorial to large murals. She infuses her work with personality and through it, hopes to inspire others to enjoy the little moments in life, as much as she does.
A huge congratulations not only to these 10 illustrators but to all new graduates, as they transition into the industry!
The AOI supports Illustrators at every stage of their career with resources, advice, events, and much more. Whether you need help navigating your first commissions, or you want to belong to a thriving community – Find out more about AOI membership today!
All graduates can take advantage of the student rate up until 1st September. If you are studying at a college or university that is an AOI Member, then you are eligible for a further discount at the affiliate student rate – £69 for a full year’s support.
Head here to check if your college is currently an AOI Member and here to see the full range of membership benefits.
We’re also here to continue to support once your student membership comes to an end. If you are aged 25 and under, we have a discount you can take advantage of.
Check out last years’ Graduates to Watch article, and our top tips and insights for new graduates from our Resources and News, below.
Taking the First Steps – Tips & Insights for Graduates by Graduates.
How to Start as Illustrator: 6 Tips and Insights
The Art of Breaking In: Real Talk with Early Career Illustrators Part 1 and Part 2
Back to News Page