Arts Thread

Awel Mari
Illustration BA(Hons)

Swansea College of Art UWTSD

Graduates: 2025

Specialisms: Illustration

My location: Swansea, United Kingdom

awel-willicombe ArtsThread Profile
Swansea College of Art UWTSD

Awel Mari

awel-willicombe ArtsThread Profile

First Name: Awel

Last Name: Mari

University / College: Swansea College of Art UWTSD

Course / Program: Illustration BA(Hons)

Graduates: 2025

Specialisms: Illustration

My Location: Swansea, United Kingdom

Website: Click To See Website

About

Hello! My name is Awel and I’m a Welsh illustrator. My illustrations are mostly digital as I find that medium the most flexible with my art style. I work in a very sharp and angular style with a heavy focus on portraiture illustrations. My work mainly focuses on feminist values and character design. I concentrate on deconstructing the sexualization of femme presenting characters within media, which predominantly influences my design work. I enjoy bringing Welsh culture into alternative fashions and experimenting with unconventional ways to display Welshness, such as creating characters with punk aesthetics in traditional Welsh clothing.

"Uproot" is a project pitch for a fantasy animated movie connected to the concept of living in a fantastical world whilst still enjoying the mundane aspects of life. Set within the fictional land of Nomow Kraina, it is filled with a menagerie of monsters and wandering creatures. The story revolves around found family and the struggles of trying to be a better person for the people you love. I have taken some inspiration from studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke and Dreamworks’ The Wild Robot, contrasting nature with hard industrialism. The story focuses on three main characters (Rupert, Mildred and Norman) as they struggle to survive in a harsh world as a new family. The outcome of this project is a fully design concept art book filled with the project pitch made for 'Uproot'.