Lee Montgomery — Medical & Technical Illustrator

Based in Bath, Lee Montgomery is an experienced illustrator whose precise approach and attention to detail have won him many commissions in advertising, publishing, packaging and design. Art is his main passion, and he freely admits that painting has taken over his life. Beyond the studio, he loves to ride his bike and listens to music all day long, fed a constant diet of new music discovered on Spotify. He’s an Arsenal fan, and a voracious reader on his Kindle.

Training

Lee originally trained as a technical illustrator, learning how to draw cutaway engines and exploded gearboxes in perspective, using precise black lines. His courses also covered natural history and medical illustration. He studied for two years at Portsmouth College of Art, and for two more at Cornwall Technical college in Redruth. All the while, he felt more drawn to supplementary classes on realistic painting rather than technical illustration.

Approach

After working traditionally in watercolour for 16 years, Lee adopted digital technology and today uses Photoshop and Illustrator to create his images. The new tools he uses have introduced more flexibility to his process and whereas before he worked in a predictable sequence, today he likes to experiment and find new ways solutions as he creates images.

Key Software

Photoshop and Illustrator

Styles

Lee’s work is precise and realistic, but include plenty of colour and have an individual feel to them. He works in two main styles – his digital paintings are reminiscent of gouache or oils, while his vector images are closer to airbrushed technical drawings.