I am a UK based artist & illustrator from West Wales and Birmingham. My work is well suited to editorial work that requires a sensitive touch.
A sharp eye for visual metaphors that communicate complex ideas with clarity and emotion.
In 2025, I graduated from Cambridge School of Art with a fist class degree in BA (hons) Illustration. I have strong foundations in figurative drawing; combining traditional and digital processes to create sensitive, engaging visual narratives.
DARLA FENNELL
PROJECTS
MISTAKES
ISTAKES
Mistakes - Coloured Pencil on Paper
I was briefed to create a series of illustrative images surrounding the work 'Mistakes'. In this project, I delved into the theme of 'Mistakes' through a religion-critical lens.
Inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, I focused on Eve's pivotal decision to eat the forbidden fruit, symbolizing weight of choice and consequence.
This exploration led me to examine the intertwined concepts of mistake and punishment, highlighting theme of conception and the inherent pain that can accompany it. Through these visuals, I aim to provoke thought and reflection on the female experience.
This section showcases the evolution of my sketchbook work into the piece. I drew inspiration from medical journals and online archives aiming to create a soft, vibrant image that contrasts with the stark, graphic visuals for an intriguing effect.
In this project, my objective was to create images that illustrate an excerpt from Oliver Sacks' book, 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.' I chose the case study titled 'The Disembodied Lady', which tells the story of Christina who loses her proprioception after surgery and can no longer move her limbs without directly looking them. To convey this, I decided to depict her as a statue that has been sculpted down by the doctor. I carried out primary at the Museum of Classical Archaeology, examining in statues and archival photographs of suregery.
THE
DISEMBODIED LADY
I create a mockup of the images alongside the text which you can read here.
The Disembodied Lady - gouache on paper
Ragdoll - gouache on paper
THE
PHANTOM WITHIN
I focused on the conceptual project 'Phantoms in the Brain: Exploring theeries of the Human Mind' by V.S. Ramachandran & Sandra Blakeslee, which explores case studies of individuals with unusual medical phenomena.
Following a stroke, a woman exhibits suicidal tendencies linked to the right hemisphere of her brain, which governs her left hand.
Within my developmental work, I investigated visuals relating to stroke symptoms and the leptomeningeal collaterals that contribute to them.
Murderous Hand - oil on paper
SKETCHBOOK
Pages featuring live drawings created during my travels to new and different places. A blend of media was used, incorporating whatever was available on those days: pre-prepared colour blocks of paint on paper, pens, and collage materials found around me for instance.
I find this to be an interesting method of visually recording my environment for memory purposes, while also improving my live-drawing skills.
DESIGN
Self Directed Design Project - MAUDE GRAVE
Combining my illustration and design skills, I produced a storyboard animation for a fictitious clothing company 'MAUDE GRAVE'. I designed a logo and developed an advertisement where a model dances through a cathedral. The project includes over 200 hand-finished frames based on a rotoscope outline, which were then meticulously aligned with the background image This serves as a guideline for brand imagery and design direction showcasing my ability to effectively translate my vision into visual form.
Rotoscoped Dancer
Full Final Animation
This is another example of how I merged my illustration skills with design concepts. In this piece, I digitally collaged my drawing of a wheel with track marks into the center of an eye using Photoshop, creating the focal point of the image. I also incorporated micrographics in the background and included essential information for the fictional company.
Digital Collage in Photoshop
Illustration Digitally Edited and Composed
Illustration Digitally Edited with Hand-drawn Text
Page Layouts
CONTACT
EMAIL:
I am currently available for work and commissions! Prints are also available at request. Feel free to get in touch using my contact form or by emailing me directly. Please describe what you're looking for and we can discuss it further.