Virtual gallery: Paul goes back in time to pursue ambition

Jan 9 2012 By Antonia Jones

Paul Underhill - Illustrator and designer

AFTER working in the newspaper and design marketing industry for 14 years, Paul Underhill decided he wanted to pursue his ambition of becoming an illustrator.

So the 38-year-old from Wrexham left his job and is now in his third and final year of a degree in illustration at Stockport College.

"I have a great passion for character design and cartooning", said Paul.

"These passions have been with me from my early childhood where I was heavily influenced by the great animators of Disney including Milt kahl and Ollie Johnston who created some of the most beautiful drawings for the likes of the Jungle Book and Robin Hood. I was also largely inspired by DC and Marvel comics and would spend many happy hours re creating my favourite comic book heroes and creating my own comic strips."

Paul added: "Since starting my degree I have had the opportunity to explore many different techniques for illustrating and have I found work best both digitally and with the more traditional pen and ink. Illustrators that inspire me range from the fun doodle style of Jon Burgerman to Pete Fowlers crazy world of Monsterism Island.

"I have most recently been following the brilliant work of Bedfordshire illustrator David Litchfield who creates amazing pen and watercolour illustrations.

"Previous to my degree I worked as a designer for 14 years working in both the newspaper industry and design marketing and feel fortunate that my employers gave me the chance to express my love of character design through my work.

"My main hopes for the future are to create characters for television animation and the web and would also like the opportunity to create characters for use in child education. I would also like the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded illustrators in the future."

To see more of Pauls work visit his website http://cargocollective.com/paulunderhill