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Association of Illustrators champions graduate Kate Channing
Wednesday, 10 August, 2022 — BA (Hons) Illustration graduate Kate Channing has been selected as one of the Association of Illustrators ‘10 UK Illustration Graduates to Watch in 2022’
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-illustration">BA (Hons) Illustration</a> graduate <a href="https://www.kateohdowd.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kate Channing</a> has been chosen by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) as one of their <a href="https://theaoi.com/2022/07/27/10-uk-illustration-graduates-to-watch-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘10 UK Illustration Graduates to Watch in 2022'</a>. Named by the AOI as one of “10 inspiring up-and-coming illustrators who captured our attention in 2022”, Kate creates bright, graphic artwork for a variety of clients across a wide range of projects.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Creating work that covers varying subject matters, Kate has worked on everything from packaging design for alcohol brands to editorial illustrations for publications, to surface pattern design and typography. In her free time, the illustrator and graphic designer loves to write and enjoys creating character designs, comics and graphic novels.<br /></p>
<p>Kate’s work is an ongoing investigation into art as therapy, how illustration can be used as a communication tool and the power of illustration as a means of promoting social change. She is largely inspired by social issues, environments, personal and shared experiences and strong emotions, and has a huge interest in the ways in which graphic design principles and illustration can work in tandem to create interesting and unique compositions and convey important messages.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://theaoi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The AOI</a> is the professional body for illustration in the UK. They work very closely with universities around the UK and beyond to help support illustration students during their studies and into their freelance careers. Over the past few years we’ve seen new illustrators and students overcome plenty of challenges, and witnessed so much resilience and resourcefulness.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Speaking at the start of the summer, Kate said: “When I enrolled at Arts University Plymouth I loved to draw, but the extent of my skills was using a pencil and paper. Since then, I’ve learned so much about digital illustration and I’ve been given some amazing opportunities, such as being selected to complete editorial work for the university, being shortlisted for a competition with Tate and completing collaborations with Collective Arts Brewing, a craft brewery in Toronto, Canada.”<br /></p>
<p>“My interest in digital art has recently turned into an interest in branding, and the overlap between illustration and graphic design. I love using my practice as a way to tackle social issues that I’m passionate about - as an example, for my final major project I developed a brand identity for an anti-spiking alcohol brand, which aimed to improve women’s safety.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Congratulations to Kate for being recognised as an illustrator of exceptional potential among this year’s graduates.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If you’re interested in applying to study <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-illustration">BA (Hons) Illustration</a> or one of our range of other creative qualifications, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/clearing">Clearing 2022</a> is now open, with time left to apply to start in September 2022. Call our Clearing Hotline on 01752 203402 to discuss your options.</p>
