carmela.arguimbau
I’m an illustrator from Argentina, now based in Edinburgh, Scotland. My work is deeply inspired by my South American heritage, Japanese Sumi-e painting, manga, Studio Ghibli films, and the natural beauty of Scottish landscapes and folklore. Through watercolour and ink, I explore stories of identity, migration, and connection, often weaving elements of my own journey as an immigrant into my illustrations.
I’ve recently completed an HND in Illustration and a BA (Hons) in Visual Communication (Kingston University, delivered at Edinburgh College), where I was recognised with achievement awards in both programmes. My background also includes experience creating book covers and content illustrations, portraits, greeting cards, and personal commissions.
I’m passionate, ambitious, and driven to create meaningful work that resonates emotionally with people. Illustration has always been my way of telling stories, whether capturing a fleeting moment, bringing a narrative to life, or exploring cultural roots, and I’m excited to keep pushing my practice into new, creative directions.
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carmela.arguimbauThe Legend of the Hornero Book Cover SpreadWatercolor illustration for a picture book inspired by a Guarani folktale. The cover portrays the story’s central lovers set within the vibrant Amazon forest, surrounded by native South American wildlife, hinting at a timeless tale rooted in love and legend. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauThe Legend Of The Hornero Inside IllustrationWatercolor and ink illustration showing the vast Amazon forest from above, with the tribe’s village nestled within the greenery. The piece captures the scale and richness of the landscape and sets the scene for this love story. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauTokyo Express book cover spreadIllustrations for Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto, a Japanese post-war crime novel, designed as a detective’s corkboard, combining watercolour character portraits, handwritten post-it notes, sepia coffee-toned location images, and digital composition to mirror the unfolding investigation View Folio
carmela.arguimbauTokyo Express Inside Illustration 1An ink illustration kept in black and white to evoke the serious tone of this Japanese post-war crime story, showing Detective Torigai Jutaro at the rocky cove in Hakata Bay where a young man and woman are found. What appears to be a lovers’ suicide is the mystery that sets the investigation in motion. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauTokyo Express Inside Illustration smallAn ink illustration kept in black and white, depicting a small crab interacting with the discarded poison bottle, a subtle detail from Tokyo Express that reflects the story’s atmosphere and setting View Folio
carmela.arguimbauNicholas Nickleby Theatre PosterPoster done for Pass theatre for the production of Nicolas Nickleby. The Poster was done with watercolours and ink. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauMagazine CoverThe cover is showing a women character juggling all the different health targets. She's in an abstract calm surrounding. The background mountains are inspired by the heart rate, the heart being the sun. The Illustration was done with watercolours and pencil. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauMagazine double pageThis double page is a continuation of the cover showing the women character juggling all the different health targets. The Illustration was done with watercolours and pencil. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauMagazine Inside IllustrationsI created the inside illustrations for a science magazine article about healthy habits. My work focused on visualising the importance of drinking enough water and eating vegetables. I chose to depict colourful human figures with water represented in blue and vegetables in green, to make the concepts engaging and clear. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauGreeting CardMade with watercolour and Ink this card is the back of the previous Chinese inspired panda card. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauGreeting CardThis card took inspiration from Chinese folklore, depicting a calm scene at the rice fields. View Folio
carmela.arguimbauCommissioned portraitWhen I am not Illustrating projects I do fantasy portraits. This work was commissioned for a client who wanted to be portrayed as a Hogwarts professor. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” The Sly Fox Shop IllustrationWatercolour, ink and pencil shop Illustration done for my project "Us Not Them". An illustrated artist book celebrating immigrant-owned businesses in Edinburgh through personal stories, portraits, and a screen-printed map. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” The Sly Fox Inside Shop IllustrationWatercolour, ink and pencil shop Illustration done for my project "Us Not Them". An illustrated artist book celebrating immigrant-owned businesses in Edinburgh through personal stories, portraits, and a screen-printed map. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” Artist Book Inside viewThis self-initiated project explores immigration through the stories of immigrant-owned businesses in Edinburgh. The outcome is a handcrafted artist book housed in a laser-cut bamboo box, featuring illustrated portraits, interviews, and a fold-out screen-printed map showing each business location. Each book is hand-bound and placed beside the name and three words chosen by the owners to describe their immigration journey. The book covers depict the doors of their shops, symbolising an invitation into their lives and stories. The project aims to highlight cultural contribution, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the diversity within local communities. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” Artist Book Map unfolded.This self-initiated project explores immigration through the stories of immigrant-owned businesses in Edinburgh. The outcome is a handcrafted artist book housed in a laser-cut bamboo box, featuring illustrated portraits, interviews, and a fold-out screen-printed map showing each business location. Each book is hand-bound and placed beside the name and three words chosen by the owners to describe their immigration journey. The book covers depict the doors of their shops, symbolising an invitation into their lives and stories. The project aims to highlight cultural contribution, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the diversity within local communities. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” Half Opened box viewThis self-initiated project explores immigration through the stories of immigrant-owned businesses in Edinburgh. The outcome is a handcrafted artist book housed in a laser-cut bamboo box, featuring illustrated portraits, interviews, and a fold-out screen-printed map showing each business location. Each book is hand-bound and placed beside the name and three words chosen by the owners to describe their immigration journey. The book covers depict the doors of their shops, symbolising an invitation into their lives and stories. The project aims to highlight cultural contribution, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the diversity within local communities. View Folio
carmela.arguimbau“Us Not Them” opened story bookThis project is a personal and creative exploration of immigration through the lens of Edinburgh’s immigrant-owned businesses. It resulted in an artist book featuring illustrated portraits and stories gathered through in-person interviews. Accompanied by a fold-out map and a handcrafted box, the publication highlights the cultural and economic contributions of immigrants while challenging negative stereotypes. Each element, from the handmade decorations to the recorded conversations, reflects the emotional and human side of migration. The project aims to inspire reflection, build empathy, and celebrate diversity by showcasing the voices, journeys, and impact of immigrant communities in the city. View Folio