Alexandra Ball

Overview

It’s funny how things turn out. Trained as an illustrator, Alexandra Ball drifted further and further from her vocation and ended up as a lender in a building society. The credit crunch of 2008 foreclosed on that avenue, so she launched herself as a professional illustrator. Now her curvy and colourful line drawings adorn many a children’s book and the world seems better for it.

Training
Alexandra completed an art foundation course at the University of Portsmouth in 1998, and then an illustration degree at Falmouth College of Arts.

Approach
Alexandra loves line drawings, spending the early stages of a project working on fluid, hand-sketched compositions. These are scanned into the computer for colouring, and textures are added to give the overall feel of a collage.

Style
Looking at her illustrations, you can tell Alexandra’s style is influenced by nature and the four seasons. Indeed, much of her inspiration comes when she takes Bee, her Springer Spaniel, out for a walk. Though she uses computers, here images are full of hand-drawn warmth and sensitivity. The animal characters in the worlds she creates have innocent and caring personalities – perfect for illustrated storybooks.

Client List

• Berger Finest Confectionery
• Candis Magazine
• Compendium Inc
• EECI
• FolkUnion.com
• Harper Collins
• Highlights High Five
• The Flavour Media
• Girl Guides
• Langland
• National Geographic Learning
• Red Rocket Design Ltd
• Reveal Magazine
• Top That Publishing
• Walkers Crisps