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NORTH This body of work is the result of my dissertation project, exploring walking as an auto-ethnographical approach to illustrative practice, and using this to understand landscapes and narratives of place. This allowed me to delve deeply into concepts and contextual themes behind my work through a heavily research-lead project. 

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NORTH Practical work utilised primary research methods: on-site visits, note taking, video, photography, sketching, and ephemera. Drawing from memory allowed me to channel my personal perception of landscapes, working intuitively and imaginatively. Alongside secondary research, I could draw inspiration from varying perspectives, and convey my own world-view.

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NORTH I curated and collated documentation of my walks within a book, aiming to capture sense of place, alluding to the hidden narratives behind the landscapes. Specific elements from my sketchbooks and research were selected to compose pages within the final publication. ‘North’ contains directly observed imagery, and illustrated imaginings of the landscapes’ historical tales or folklore, using motifs from my sketchbook. My sketchbook acted as an inquisitive tool, and I wanted to retain the authenticity of my field notes and sketchbook studies within the final publication.

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NORTH Book page

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NORTH Book page

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NORTH Book page

[katiegrindleyillustration]

NORTH Book page

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NORTH Book page

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NORTH Book page

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NORTH

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MYTHOLOGIES ‘Mythologies’ investigated narratives of women within Greek mythology, challenging methods of visual storytelling in contemporary practice. I focused on the characterisation of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena. Many of their stories were about revenge, bitterness, and anger, which I found to be fascinating themes when exploring representations of women.

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MYTHOLOGIES Scanned sketchbook development: Artemis’ hunting dogs, and Athena’s birth through Zeus’ head.

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MYTHOLOGIES Sketchbook development.

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MYTHOLOGIES Final illustrations used within tapestry design.

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MYTHOLOGIES Final illustration used within tapestry design, depicting Artemis’ vengeful acts.

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MYTHOLOGIES I became interested in Greek vases as methods of story-telling, and created my own ‘artefacts’, extending narratives through 3D form. My Degree Show was constructed as a mock museum space. This work was later selected for display in Leeds Arts University’s Curator’s Choice Cabinet, which I installed. Top: Leeds Arts University Degree Show 2019 Bottom: Leeds Arts University Curator’s Choice Cabinet 2019-2020

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EDITORIAL Top: An editorial response to Newstatesman: ‘The year women said: Me Too’  Bottom: An editorial response to The Guardian:  ‘Natural health service: Wildlife volunteers get mental health boost’ In an editorial context, I find strength in focusing on small moments, striving to illuminate the emotive content of a text. I chose articles with more emotional substance, and considered how to depict topics with subtlety and sensitivity. I felt that illustrating the ‘Me Too’ movement, a serious, unsettling topic, may be most impactful when depicted with restraint; making emotional content visceral, but with subtlety. The ghost-like hands signify the multitude of women impacted by abuse, and the hurt and shame associated. In contrast, the composition and colour choices evoke a sense of anger and uprising. The second image is intended to convey the feeling of hopefulness, a weight lifting, when stepping outside after feeling depressed or overwhelmed. I wanted the illustration to represent feeling grounded and part of the world again through contact with nature.