May van Millingen — Lifestyle Illustrator, London

May Van Millingen combines digital processes and hand drawing techniques including inks, paint, pastel crayon and paint to create unique illustrations for a wide range of leading worldwide brands. Her drawing approach making products and concepts interesting and approachable for brands in publishing, editorial, homewear, advertising and more.

May's unique, detailed work has strong historical references and is applied in advertising, print, packaging design, interiors projects and more. Taking inspiration from both daily life, both real and imagined, she often finds inspiration in nature and creates artworks which are inspired by places she has travelled to. Using ink, pencil and watercolour, May creates illustrations for many international brands. She also runs drawing workshops and exhibits her work in London.

Approach

May combines hand drawing with digital processes, and uses ink, pencil and watercolours to create her work. Her process usually combines mark-making, strong graphic lines, and a bold use of colour.

Style

Colourful, observational and diverse, May’s work always has just the right amount of detail to entice the viewer. Among other things, her style has been influenced by old botanical and scientific drawings.

Client list

Nike, Nyetimber, Harrods, The Washington Post, Google, Uniqlo, Samsung, Kettle Chips, Condé Nast, Marks & Spencer, Stylist, Haper Collins, Penguin, Mario Testino, Waitrose, Daylesford, Penguin Random House.

Woman painting a vineyard mural with Nyetimber text and grapevines