About me

Michael Blakely is a London-based trans illustrator and visual communicator, who tends to create work about political issues in a very understandable and accessible manner. He favours digital mediums such as photoshop and illustrator, but has been known to use whatever means necessary to create dynamic, powerful work - from pen and ink, mixed media to plastering bathroom walls with documents. He is mostly inspired by the world around him, the issues he has first-hand experience with, and the mass of media he intakes in his free time. He is currently graduating from the University of Westminster with a first class degree after receiving a Student Excellence award in 2019, and is working freelance. When he isn’t working on both personal and professional projects, he can usually be found stitching, working on DIY projects, or attempting to complete a growing list of video games into the early hours of the morning.

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Projects

• 2

  When the Day met the NightA short selection of pages from my comic inspired by the work of Ryan Ross. Full work can be viewed through my issuu here - issuu.com/afycso
• Facing Mental Health (illustration)Set of illustrations based on reports of mental health from a previous enquiry.
• The City of SpiesObservational pages from a zine documenting my experience in Berlin. Mixed media, ink and paint.

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Projects credited in

• 13

  University of Westminster, Illustration & Visual Communication BA (Hons)Our course offers a flexible, multimedia approach to the study and practice of contemporary illustration and visual communication arts. The ethos of the course is to nurture individual creativity, through a programme that encourages an open and speculative approach, through visual inquiry and diagnostic experimentation across a wide range of image media practices and contexts. Opportunities to participate in internships, work experience and industry led initiatives prepare students to ente

Work history

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IllustratorALL YOUR VAMPIRES
Dec 2016London, United KingdomFreelance
Freelance illustrator - check out my portfolio here allyourvampires.com

Skills

• Illustration
• Digital Illustration
• Digital Design
• Creative Art Direction
• Visual Communication

Education

BA (Hons) Illustration and Visual CommunicationUniversity of Westminster
Jul 2017Watford Road, Northwick Park, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3TP, UK
University of Westminster, Illustration & Visual Communication BA (Hons) with a full First Class degree.

Awards

Student Excellence AwardsUniversity of Westminster
Awarded a Student Excellence award for outstanding academic achievement.