Exclusively representing

Vanessa Dell

Vanessa Dell - People and Portrait Illustrator based in the UK

Life and personality jump off the page or screen with one of Vanessa Dell’s portraits. Vivid colours, and an emphasis on the face and its features make her paintings seem more real than real, as they reflect the spirit of the subject as much as their unique look. Based just south of London and with over two decades of illustration experience, she has always been fascinated by faces and has studied them since childhood. Then, her subjects were Bugs Bunny and Sylvester the Cat, but today her influences include Lucian Freud, Stanley Spencer, Peter Blake, Sidney Nolan and Patrick Heron. Music, dance and traditional crafts all interest Vanessa, as well as placid pursuits like walking her Irish Terrier, Twiggy, mindfulness sessions and spending time enjoying nature.

Training

Vanessa received a first class honours degree in Graphic Design, specialising in Illustration, from Kingston University.

Approach

The main medium Vanessa uses is oils, with some coloured pencils added in. She loves the physical craft of painting and drawing, as well as the feel and smell of the materials used, the paper textures and the sheen of the paint. Photoshop comes in towards the end of the process, to compose the elements and to tidy up an image. She doesn’t follow the traditional rules when she draws or paints, and tends to work from the bottom up – in portraiture that means starting with the chin and mouth and moving on from there.

Style

Composition is more important to Vanessa than perfection, and her style captures the life and personality of her subject with a human feel. It’s idiosyncratic, fresh, and sensitive, perhaps reflecting a little vulnerability and even awkwardness from time to time. That’s why people connect with her paintings more than they might with photographs.

Client list

Time Out Rolling Stone Slate Waitrose Weekend Trailer Park Inc Kiehls Annabelle Magazine Radio Times Elastic Creative The Times Smithsonian Magazine Good Housekeeping Magazine
Pando
Pando
Turine Tran works with Capstone Publishers to create the art for Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees.
Pando
A Gift of Kindness
A Gift of Kindness
Turine Tran illustrates the first in a series of children's books written by Sarah the Duchess of York.
A Gift of Kindness
Lily the Lotus
Lily the Lotus
Serenity Press commission Turine Tran for beautiful art to illustrate the children's book Lily the Lotus.
Lily the Lotus
Escape!
Escape!
Turine Tran illustrates a mysterious puzzle book for Quarto Publishing US.
Escape!
A Daughter's Love
A Daughter's Love
Turine Tran illustrates the tender story, 'Love Like Salt' for Teacher Create Materials.
A Daughter's Love
Fraud Myths
Fraud Myths
Turine Tran works her magic for Which UK
Fraud Myths
A Customised Birthday
A Customised Birthday
Turine Tran works with DMS Agency on an illustrated birthday pack.
A Customised Birthday
The Magic of Twinings Tea
The Magic of Twinings Tea
Turine Tran illustrates for Twinings Tea with Saatchi & Saatchi Milan.
The Magic of Twinings Tea
The Story of Nian
The Story of Nian
Turine Tran illustrates a classic Chinese folk tale for Harper Collins.
The Story of Nian
Père Noël
Père Noël
Turine Tran works with Transcontinental Media in Canada to produce a big book for Christmas, Le merveilleux monde du Père Noël.
Père Noël
Magical Moments
Magical Moments
Turine Tran produces a magical poster for Phoenix Group Bangkok.
Magical Moments
Night Sprites
Night Sprites
Turine Tran illustrates Sam Hay's 'Stella and the Night Sprites' in full magical glory!
Night Sprites
Gail Armstrong, James Grover, Sharif Tarabay and Turine Tran are shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2015
Gail Armstrong, James Grover, Sharif Tarabay and Turine Tran are shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2015
Gail Armstrong, James Grover, Sharif Tarabay and Turine Tran are shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2015
Tran in Vietnam
Tran in Vietnam
Turine Tran exhibits with the Saigon Artbook this week.
Tran in Vietnam
Ming and the Caterpillar
Ming and the Caterpillar
'Ming and the Caterpillar' illustrated by Turine Tran is published by National Geographic Learning (Cengage Learning in the US).
Ming and the Caterpillar
Witch Girl
Witch Girl
Witch Girl
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen
Turine Tran illustrates a production poster for The Snow Queen.
The Snow Queen
A Crayola Campaign
A Crayola Campaign
A Crayola Campaign
Hello
We are happy to help!