James Gibbs – Designer

Over the past 12 years, I have worked on a wide range of creative projects. When I graduated from art school with a BA (Hons) in Illustration in 2010, I went on to work as a graphic designer and illustrator at several agencies for a few years before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator in 2015.

Starting out working mostly in editorial and advertising, I now find myself very fortunate to be working more and more within publishing (which I absolutely love.) I have created playful artwork for a selection of non-fiction children's books. I have worked with Oxford University Press, Dorling Kindersley, What on Earth Books, Usborne, Hachette book group, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic, and Richmond Publishing.

My work is fun, bold, graphic and full of colour. It has been utilised by authors and publishers in the past to add a playful (sometimes silly) edge to more serious topics. This has helped make subjects more engaging for readers. I'm passionate about the environment, nature and science alongside diversity and equity which I try to represent in work as often as possible. Ultimately my work is positive and optimistic :)