EMILY @21ANDSENSORY
Emily @21andsensory is a freelance illustrator based in southeastern UK, who specializes in editorial illustrations.
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CREATIVE STATEMENT
My interest in illustration began at the start of my graphic design career ten years ago. I worked full time as a solo in-house graphic designer for a few years and started to enjoy illustration in my free time, which evolved into posting my work regularly online—and building a lovely community there! Having built a personal portfolio I started to gain freelance work on the side, and in September 2025 I went freelance full time as an Illustrator. Over the years, my expertise in editorial illustration has developed due to working with a range of clients which include a variety of UK universities, publications, companies and brands. What I love most about editorial illustration is its ability to break down complex ideas into something much clearer and accessible. Creating illustrations that enhance and bring to life the written piece it sits alongside is something I approach as a problem solving exercise which is truly rewarding at the end of the process. For me, the two most important qualities of a successful editorial illustration are achieving something that resonates with a reader but also strikes a good balance in terms of clarity. In short: something memorable but easily understood. To maintain my skillset I draw everyday and have multiple sketchbooks for different topics on the go at once. I think it’s important to mix my digital work with analogue practice.
RECENT CLIENTS
- Oxford University
- UCL (University College London)
- The Conversation
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- BBC and BBC Bitesize
Q&A
Which publication does a great job at using illustrations?
WIRED (online & print)
What topic do you most enjoy illustrating about?
I enjoy illustrating from my own lived experience as a neurodivergent person—so anything relating to autism, sensory processing, mental health and my special interests: plants, technology, graphic design!
What magazine cover do you want your illustration to be on?
Wrap magazine
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