Introducing Rachael Presky

Rachael Presky is a freelance Illustrator living just outside of London, UK. Rachael originally studied for a degree in Biomedical Sciences but completed a Masters in Graphic Design in 2017.

Rachael specialises in digital illustration, with a figurative, contemporary style. Her latest clients include The Radio Times,The Big Issue, Breathe Magazine, and most recently she took part in an Adobe Creative Collabs: Draw-along live with Adobe Fresco, which you can view here.

Artwork 1 created for The Big Issue UK /// Artwork 2 created for 91 Magazine

Were you artistic as a child? Where did the creativity all begin?

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Making and painting was always my favourite thing to do, I used to make doll houses out of shoe boxes and I loved colouring, drawing and painting. I was so obsessed with Winnie the Pooh and traced over the illustrations and then coloured them in. I also loved Art Attack too; Neil Buchanan was basically my best friend!

Who or what inspired you to be an illustrator?

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I actually discovered illustration quite late. I wanted to be a doctor, and originally did Biomedical Sciences at University. I then did an MA in Graphic Design and graduated in 2017. The course was twinned with an Illustration MA, and I saw all of the really lovely work they were creating. In comparison, I found Graphic Design very rigid. I also met Paul Blow at an Open Studios in Bridport (where my family live) and was fascinated by the work he was doing. I didn’t really know you could do this as a job before that!

Artwork created for Breathe Magazine

Where do you find inspiration for your illustrations?

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I mostly draw on my day-to-day life as I feel that people viewing my work can relate to it in some way, but I also like to add little spins! I try to get out and visit new places as much as possible or find new illustrators and artists to be inspired by. At the moment, I’m really enjoying conceptual work and understanding an illustrator’s thinking behind a piece, particularly clever, witty combinations and I’d like to incorporate this into my own work.

How do your surroundings impact your creative work?

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They really impact my work. I spend most of my time working at home on my own and when I have a longer stint of working alone, I get all lonely and that’s when I get creative block. So I try to get out as much as possible, meeting friends/family, walking my crazy dogs or experiencing new things. My brain seems to really love it when I surround myself with creative people at Illustration fairs or events!

How do you work through creative block?

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Either, getting out of the house or trying to change my thinking! Walking dogs is great for clearing your head and having time to think (or not think). I seem to come up with ideas in the shower or on public transport too! For me, creative block is partly a blip in confidence so I find that going back to something simple that I like drawing, like a plant, can help me get back into the swing of things.

As an artist, is it important to have a creative community around you?

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Being an illustrator is very insular, so having a big crew of creative people around you is so important. And while I love having people compliment my work on social media, there’s no replacement for face to face feedback! I also think there’s no end of people you can learn from and having a big community only means there’s more of that.

Why is being part of an agency important to you?

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Having someone advocate for you is so important to me. I love that Bright have already helped me develop and expand my portfolio. I am also quite useless at Marketing myself so it feels great to have someone else helping you with that! It’s so nice to have time to just be creative.

What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring artist?

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Draw draw draw, as much as possible!

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To see more of Rachael’s work, view her portfolio here.