Lee Hodges — Mixed Media Illustrator for Music & Events, UK

Lee Hodges comes from deepest, darkest Kernowfornia – also known as Cornwall. The sea and coastline have always been a part of his life, and today he lives on the foothills of Dartmoor, in Devon. In addition to his vibrant, mixed media illustration work, Lee is a DJ and runs club arts nights in the Southwest of England. He loves to explore and experiment with a range of creative media, but drawing was his first love and that’s what drives him as an illustrator.

Training

Lee studied at Falmouth School of Art and then at Bournemouth School of Art, specialising in illustration.

Approach

For Lee, creating an image is very much about colour, texture and a sense of rhythm. He likes to think that the things he draws can almost dance across the page, or have a soundtrack of their own. Naturally, he listens to music while he works. Usually, a piece begins as a sketch and is progressed into digital form via his graphics tablet.

Style

Textural and painterly, as a consequence of his approach Lee also describes his style as rhythmic. Although he works digitally, his aim is for the finished illustration to look as natural as possible – like a screenprint or hand painted sign. Music, folklore and Latin culture are major sources of inspiration for Lee, in particular the striking imagery surrounding Dia di los Muertos.

Client list

Lincoln Center, New York Carnibal Records Royal Horticultural Society Premm Design Hot Rum Cow Goulash Disko Festival Scholastic USA Readers Digest Rambunctious Social Club Panama Cardoon Palov

Colorful chameleon illustration by Lee Hodges with a curled tail and geometric patterns