Photography © Tom Skipp

Photography © Tom Skipp

 

profile

Hi, I’m Laura- an illustrator based in South London, specialising in intricate silhouette illustrations and decorative monochrome patterns.


With 15 years of industry experience, I've worked with a variety of international clients within the fields of publishing, packaging, surface design and branding, animation and large-scale illustrations for museums and exhibitions.

I predominantly work in design and publishing; illustrating packaging, museum graphics, children's picture books and book covers for all ages. I’ve created artwork for brands including the BBC, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Taschen, Penguin Random House and the Science Museum.

 

process

With an emphasis on storytelling and an attention to detail, my illustrations are inspired by the darker side of folk & fairy tales, along with traditional Scherenschnitte (paper cutting).

I work digitally from my home studio, drawing with a graphics tablet straight into Illustrator. I particularly love to work in striking black & white, though I'm just as comfortable using colour when a project calls for it.

On occasion I’ll step away from the screen and use paper and a scalpel to create layered paper cut outs.

 

Awards & Nominations

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal: longlisted for Blueblood (2022)

British Book Design & Production Awards: shortlisted for The Snow Queen in the Children's Trade 0-8 Years category (2019)

Books Are My Bag Readers Awards: Shortlisted in the Beautiful Books category for Bookworm (2018)

Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, Illustration West 57: Winner in the Book category for Bookworm and The Toymakers book covers (2018)

 
Photography © Kay Ogundimu

Photography © Kay Ogundimu

 

CLIENT list

BBC
Marks & Spencer
Ted Baker
Marchesa
Toni & Guy
Yardley London
John Lewis & Waitrose
Cornish Orchards
Silent Pool Gin
Taschen
Andersen Press
Penguin Random House
Hachette
Little, Brown
Macmillan
Vintage Books
Scholastic
The Guardian
The Evening Standard
Radio Times
The Times
Science Museum
Museum of Childhood Edinburgh
Ely Museum
Brighton Festival
British Heart Foundation
Cath Tate Cards
The Maybourne Hotel Group
and many more…

Design agencies

Beauty Seen PR
Chapter
Candy & Candy
Damn Fine Media
D2 Interactive
Heritage Interactive
Interstate
Open Fundraising
Outlaw
SeymourPowell
Studio Arc

 

Selected press

The Artworks Agency Meet the Artists interview

Ladies What Brunch Hoxton Radio interview

Digital Arts

MacUser

Varoom

The Mix Future Interiors

TESTIMONIALS

"Special thanks goes to the illustrator Laura Barrett, who is a pleasure to work with and whose collaboration and professionalism were gifts to this project."
Noel Daniel, Taschen. Quote from The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen

"I was lucky enough to hire Laura to work on a project, and I'm so glad I did! She worked quickly, had great communication, and her work was brilliantly whimsical, quite beautiful, and unique!" Lucien Spelman, Mushy Peas Productions

 

MENTORING

Since the beginning of the year I’ve been involved in mentoring an early-career graduate illustrator on behalf of The Association of Illustrators.

 
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All images © Laura Barrett
Please do not reproduce without permission

 

Instagram

Thought I'd share a really fun book cover series that I worked on for @harlequinbooks; Molly MacRae's The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series. The series is set in a bookshop in the idyllic (but rather dangerous!) Scottish town of Inversgail. I've love
Back from a wonderful time on our honeymoon in Belgium and super inspired by the beautiful architecture - from gothic Rapunzelesque buildings in Antwerp and Dinant to Art Nouveau townhouses in Ghent and Dinant
A few more images of the branding illustrations I created for the lovely @curlcoffee book and coffee shop in #Badaro, Beirut. Photos by @curlcoffee and thanks to Nisrine and my agents @theartworks_inc! #branding #brandingillustration #coffeeshop #
Here's a lovely project I worked on earlier this year; branding for @curlcoffee book and coffee shop in the #Badaro neighbourhood of Beirut, Lebanon. I hope I get to visit one day! I was commissioned by founder and owner, Nisrine, to try to capture
Thrilled to share a new book cover I designed and illustrated - The Moon and the Stars, the wonderful debut novel by @bookcornersaltburn's Jenna Warren, published by @fairlightbooks 🌙 ✨ I was commissioned by Rebecca Blackmore-Dawes at Fairlight to
Still buzzing and basking in the glow from Thursday, when I tied the knot in a very small ceremony with my favourite person, @mista__kay. We couldn’t have asked for a better day and even spotted a double rainbow 🌈🌈 Thank you so much @simon.v
Thought I'd repost my original Jungle Book illustration that sits alongside my new elephant themed print. Loved working on the colours, textures and animals for these! 🌱 #illustration #junglebook #rudyardkipling #childrensillustration #thejungleboo
... and here's the left hand side of the print... Revisited an old illustration, loosely based on The Jungle Book. Originally created for St George's Hospital, I updated this one with colour and texture to match my other Jungle Book print, which is
Revisited an old illustration, loosely based on The Jungle Book. Originally created for St George's Hospital, I updated this one with colour and texture to match my other Jungle Book print, which is one of my favourites! Here's the right hand side o
Some summery photos from the @cornishorchards Cider packaging project. Commissioned, art directed and designed by @outlaw_collective and thanks to @theartworks_inc. I had a lot of fun working on this project - in case you missed it, you can scrolll
Since it's cider weather (well, sort of) and following on from yesterday's interview, I thought I'd share some close ups of the illustrations for @cornishorchards that I created in collaboration with @outlaw_collective 🍏🍎🌿 Scroll through to see t
I thought I'd also share some photos taken by @mista__kay from our recent visit to @ely_museum, of the Wise Woman's Hut and my illustrations animated by @heritageinteractive inside. It was so lovely to visit the wonderfully refurbished museum and see