Tasia Graham is a freelance illustrator and visual artist with a practice focused on imaginative story telling. Tasia’s work often uses texture, layering and figurative line as the foundation for her digital paintings, which explore themes of womanhood and cultural identity. Interested in the emotional attributes of human behaviour, Tasia transforms ‘feeling’ into atmospheric imagery and encourages the viewer to step into the painting, to feel the presence of their consciousness. As she describes to us: “I want the viewer feel like they are standing in the middle of the painting.”
Since graduating in 2021 from the University of Arts London, where she studied illustration and visual media, Tasia’s work has attracted a wide range of clients including the BBC and Financial Times. She has been commissioned to illustrate the stories of writers and her own personal experiences. She is also part of a new BBC TV show called ‘Make it at Market’, which focuses on people turning a creative hobby into a full-time practice.
We talked to Tasia to find out more about her career journey as an illustrator, her sources of inspiration, and thoughts on improving diversity and inclusion across the creative industries.
How did you first become interested in being an illustrator?
I’ve always been interested in the arts; from a young age I would draw my favourite characters and paint landscapes for fun. I was close with my art teachers, won a few awards and loved learning about art. With the help of my teachers, I went on to study A Level photography, fine art, and graphic design, I felt that illustration was a perfect mixture of different fields and I began to explore illustration in more depth at the University of Arts London, where I found my favourite medium — digital arts.
Can you tell us about your career path and how you got to where you are now?
It started in college, where I learnt Photoshop and Illustrator. I worked part-time and did little commissions here and there for friends and family; then I decided I wanted to pursue art full-time. I went on to university and moved to London, where I was surrounded by creatives, which really pushed me to develop my craft and work with a variety of people from different backgrounds. I reached out to different editorials/people and got some replies which made me want to push myself more and work on my craft. I eventually started to love illustrating stories and moved on to editorial illustration working with Cincinnati Magazine on the BLM movement and The Financial Times.
How would you describe yourself as an illustrator and your process and/or creative style?
My style explores colour, atmospheric scenery, and narrative. I work in both digital format — using a colourful pallet and fluid stylized drawing techniques created on my iPad — and traditional painting. I love to explore topics such as womanhood, culture, and identity, depicting moods and scenes formed into illustrative storytelling.
“ I love to explore topics such as womanhood, culture, and identity, depicting moods and scenes formed into illustrative storytelling.”
Your work is very vibrant and colourful, what are your go to places for inspiration and how do you usually approach a new project?
I love colour and atmosphere! I find inspiration from nature, film, and music. I also take references from real life and my own experiences. I try to find the beauty in everything, and to re-create this in my art. When I have a project with a new client, I try to get as much information as I can, I do my own secondary research, play my favourite music and start sketching!
How did being on the BBC TV show ‘Make it to Market’ come about and what were the key takeaways you learnt from the experience?
I was initially contacted through social media. I had recently discovered a newfound confidence in my work and had been regularly documenting my art practice, starting to take myself more seriously as an artist. I went through the selection process and was extremely happy to make it onto the show.
Throughout my time on the show, I was a little nervous and unsure if my work was good enough. I had trouble managing my time, keeping up with client work, working part-time and creating a floral painting collection at all once. I had a few breakdowns!
Whilst on the show Sharon Walters mentioned creating more paintings and using different quality paper for my prints. I was hesitant at first, as I was so used to creating my work digitally. However, once I started to adapt my work using oil paint and hand finishing, my print pieces developed an amazing quality. I was partnered with JG Contemporary Galley and owner Jewel Goodby, who has been an amazing mentor. She helped raise my prints to gallery level, using limited editions, signed and dated, and personalised framing. I’ve had wonderful feedback and a number of sales.
I’ve also found the fun in recording my practice and uploading to my social media, creates more traction! I’ve also been contacted about more mural commissions, which are a personal favourite of mine.
Since the show can handle the day-to-day stresses such as, managing shipping and admin tasks, alongside working on my creative practice much more effectively. I’ve become better equipped to run my business, and freer as an artist. I’m looking forward to the future of my career!
“Since the show can handle the day-to-day stresses such as, managing shipping and admin tasks, alongside working on my creative practice much more effectively. I’ve become better equipped to run my business, and freer as an artist.”
A lot of creatives struggle with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Have you experienced this and, if yes, how do you deal with it?
Sometimes I find myself in spaces where I don’t see people like myself, plus I’m the only woman in the room. When I start to feel anxiety or self-doubt, I remind myself that I got here through hard work, and to never doubt my abilities as an artist and more importantly who I am as a person.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
As a recent graduate I still have a lot to learn. In 5 years’, time I would like to see myself running my own Taisa Designs studio in London surrounded by women creatives and working on a variety of fun projects! Publishing children’s books and working closely with a variety of brands/clients.
Do you have any women role models or mentors who have shaped your career?
My photography teacher Julie Swinsco at Cadbury College in Birmingham, and form tutor Leigh Clarke in illustration and visual media at University of Arts London. They both helped me in my creative practice and pushed me to strive for independence within the arts.
Are there any creative women who you find particularly inspiring?
I’m super inspired by creative black women such as writer Bell Hooks, singer Willow Smith, and SZA. All these women have pushed boundaries in society and the media, as well as being authentically themselves, which I find incredibly inspiring. I hope to achieve the same in my artistic career.
How do you think we can encourage greater diversity and inclusion across the creative industries?
Encourage the discussion of representation and give those a platform to speak on the subject. We need to see a wave of brands pushing diversity, hiring people of colour in the arts who can offer different perspectives and ideas.
Finally, if you could go back to the beginning and start your career again what would tell your younger self?
I would tell myself not to think too much, and not to get caught up in distractions, to keep moving forward, save money, explore different ideas/cultures and to move to London sooner!
“Encourage the discussion of representation and give those a platform to speak on the subject. We need to see a wave of brands pushing diversity, hiring people of colour in the arts who can offer different perspectives and ideas.”