Chris Gilleard

Overview

As a youngster, Chris Gilleard was always drawing daft little characters and comics that made people smile. He loved doodling and dreamed that one day he’d be paid to do it. Today, he still lives in the lovely little Yorkshire town of Beverley, but has swapped his pens and pencils for an Apple Mac. Mainly using vector graphics, he creates his humorous little characters for a range of clients – including the Canadian media giant Rogers.

Training

During three years studying at Loughborough University, Chris discovered his love of vector illustration, and started working as a freelance illustrator soon after graduation.

Approach

Drawing with vectors really suits Chris’s approach to drawing and painting. He likes using flat, bold colours and strong, simple shapes with clean edges. Within one of his images, each element is carefully and meticulously constructed from smaller pieces of geometry. They come together to form everything from chivalrous knights to mad bikers, and from apes to honey bees.

Style

Chris’s work is predominantly character-based. It’s fun, playful and a little bit daft. He enjoys making people smile, so his images are bright and colourful, and a little absurd. He has an underlying love of geometry and if you look carefully you’ll often spot his love for perfect squares and circles in his characters and compositions.

It’s no surprise to find that he’s recently rediscovered Lego, and loves looking at old and outdated technology – from cars with strange features to computers and control panels filled with inexplicable buttons. Some of his work is done in a pixel art style, tying in with this retro technology vibe.

Client List

• Microsoft
• Samsung
• Radio Times
• Rogers Communications
• Migros
• Roomr
• Java Republic