Michelle Thompson has been at the forefront of illustration since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1996. She has worked successfully in publishing, editorial and design. Her illustrations have appeared internationally, most notably in collaboration with the influential British designer Vaughan Oliver. Michelle has also illustrated Cherie Blair’s book, ‘The Goldfish Bowl’. She illustrates a regular column for The Globe and Mail in Toronto. Other clients include the Royal Mail, BBC, Reebok, Penguin Books, The Guardian and many others. Her work has been featured in the international design press including Creative Review, Communication Arts and Graphics International and can be found in numerous design books including Hand & Eye and Picture Book by Angus Hyland (Pentagram). Michelle’s work includes mark making, collage and photography combined with digital processes. She works with found and created elements, figurative, abstract and typographic. Her work is uniquely versatile and constantly evolving. Michelle works using a combination of traditional collage techniques and digital technology. “Editorial work tends to be digital for speed but I still work by hand when the circumstances allow. More often it’s a combination of techniques. I have a huge archive of elements collected over the past 15 years. Everything from postcards, books and magazines, to wood block type, typewriters and printing sets. I use paint and ink, pens and pencils, as well as my own photography.” Michelle lives in Saffron Walden (UK) with her partner and two sons. (bio)
