People often assume that every illustration in an artist’s portfolio comes from a client brief. The reality is that many of my favourite pieces started with nothing more than an idea I wanted to explore.

Personal projects have become an important part of my creative practice. They give me the freedom to experiment, develop new techniques, and create work that reflects my own interests without the constraints of a commercial brief.

As a New Zealand illustrator with a background of more than fifteen years as a professional tattoo artist, drawing has always been at the centre of what I do. Whether I’m creating artwork for a client or working on a personal illustration, everything begins with a pencil and a sketch. Every piece in my portfolio is hand drawn before it’s refined digitally.

Why I Create Self-Initiated Work

Commercial illustration often starts with a brief, a deadline and a clear objective. Personal projects are different.

They allow me to ask, “What if?”

What if a familiar character was reimagined in a completely different style? What if I combined influences from fine art, pop culture and contemporary design? What if I created artwork simply because I wanted to see where the idea could go?

Those questions often lead to some of my strongest work.

Personal projects also allow me to keep developing as an illustrator. Every piece teaches me something about composition, colour, storytelling or visual impact that I can carry into future commercial work.

Drawing Everything by Hand

Although my illustrations are completed digitally, I still believe that strong drawing is the foundation of great illustration.

Every project starts with rough sketches and develops through multiple stages before reaching the finished artwork. That process helps create illustrations that feel expressive, intentional and full of personality.

For me, drawing isn’t just the first step—it’s the most important one.

From Tattooing to Illustration

Working as a tattoo artist taught me how to collaborate with people, develop ideas and create artwork with purpose. Every tattoo begins with a conversation and ends with something completely original.

Illustration isn’t all that different.

Whether I’m creating artwork for publishing, editorial projects, branding or entertainment, I enjoy taking an idea and finding the strongest visual way to communicate it.

Looking Ahead

I’m always creating new personal work alongside commercial projects because I believe the two make each other stronger.

Some illustrations begin as experiments. Others begin with a client brief. Either way, my goal is always the same: to create thoughtful, hand-drawn artwork that tells a story and leaves a lasting impression.

Thanks for taking the time to explore my work. I hope these projects give you a glimpse into both my creative process and the way I approach illustration.