Hello, I’m Hannah, a freelance illustrator from Nottingham. Children’s book illustration offers me a form of alchemy and magic whereby a book can visually transport the reader to a different world. I embarked on the MA to re-ignite a similarly more immersive and emotive approach to image-making in my own work.

I have always drawn observationally, but now regularly practice using imagination and memory to inform work. During the MA, I have focussed on developing colour technique while exploring a range of materials, responding to the different narrative possibilities that unfolded as a consequence. Formative sketchbook practice has positively informed final illustrations and has given more immediate life and vitality to my work. My stories explore how visual and narrative metaphor can indirectly articulate experience and emotion.

Website: hannahsawtell.co.uk

Instagram: @hannahjainesawtell

Email: hannah.sawtell@ntlworld.com