I am a digital illustrator and animator based in Brighton, with an interest in producing colourful animations with a playful tone. My favourite topics to work on are mental health, animals and nature, and the LGBTQ+ community, which I explore in my personal work of zines, online stickers, and animated gifs.
I am open to a variety of opportunities, such as working in publishing, editorial, on contemporary animation projects. Please get in touch :)
ruswatkinsillustration@gmail.com
Projects
- Self Care Character AnimationsMy project 'Self Care' from 2019, a series of character animations about mental health, aimed at older children. I produced these animations with social media and smartphones in mind, inspired by contemporary GIPHY stickers. This project helped develop my animation skills, build my visual language, and learn more in Photoshop and After Effects.
- Queer Zine SeriesA personal project celebrating the queer community, produced in 2019. The series exist in the form of Zines and Prints, which I sell through Etsy and at local Art Fairs. They have also been exhibited at various galleries such as QUEER (Bumf Gallery, Arts University Bournemouth, 2020) and were featured at Grrrl Zine Fair (London, 2019).
- Paws For Thought MagazineAn e-zine featuring articles about pets and their owners, alongside my editorial illustrations. Aimed at pet lovers and young adults, the magazine includes 2D animations, and stickers hosted on GIPHY for use on social media. Full Magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/619963b7-8061-4b2d-971a-5b7889fe6505
Projects credited in
- Gum Chewer exhibitionPhotos from Gum Chewer Exhibition. An exhibition curated by me and showcasing fellow students from the Arts University Bournemouth illustration course. The artists featured in the exhibition are in order from top to bottom: Patricia Csuhaj, Ru Swatkins, Morgan Pritchett, Sophie Elliot, FLOSSPOTZ, Megan Marett, Viv Hughes, Kimberly Walker.
- Arts University Bournemouth, BA (Hons) IllustrationThe BA Illustration course at AUB is founded on an inclusive notion of illustration, that recognises the breadth of practices, and contexts within which it operates. Here, students define their own universe whilst building the skills to enable them to adapt to the rapidly expanding and diversifying field of contemporary illustration, whether those are drawing, print, digital or time-based practices. AUB illustration students are resourceful and agile creatives who maintain a clear sense of th48
Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Indesign
- After Effects
- 2D Animation
- Risograph Printing
- Editorial Illustration
- Zine Design
- Digital Interactive
Education
BA(Hons) Illustration Animation Arts University Bournemouth
- Wallisdown, Poole, United Kingdom
First Class Honours
Art and Design Foundation Diploma (Distinction)Arts University Bournemouth
- Wallisdown, Poole, United Kingdom