Summer in the City Artwork Competition Winners

In the run-up to our summer issue, we held an illustration & artwork competition, asking keen creatives to submit their vision of London during the hot months. We were blown away by the quality of the entries and are very proud to introduce you to our 20 Long-List, 3 Runners Up & Overall Winner!

20 Long-List

Achiraya Bunditanont

Sunny Day in Hyde Park (digital drawing)

Two deck chairs with striped fabric facing a green grassy area with tall bushes and trees, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Achiraya is an illustrator and designer who grew up in Bangkok and currently lives in London. Her work focuses on people’s experiences, mainly about emotions and daily life. She found that these mundane things connect people together, we all share something in common and you are not alone on this planet.

@archiestudio | archie-studio.com

Antoinette Christoforou

Unwind (pencil sketch & digital drawing)

Illustration of a person lying on a yellow towel in a colorful field of wildflowers with a sunset background, labeled "HEDGE PARK."

Antoniette is a London based summer obsessed creative and aspiring muralist. Using Procreate as her main tool, she creates work drawn from the inspiration of her travels, soulful music and love for vibrant colours. Antoniette about embracing the beauty of life and spreading positivity through my artwork. 

@nettys_room | nettysroom.com 

Ana Parra

Hackney Downs in Summer (digital drawing)

Illustration of diverse people relaxing and engaging in outdoor activities on a grassy hill, with buildings and a blue sky in the background.

Ana is a Spanish illustrator based in London. With a background in oil painting, Ana fell in love with digital illustration in 2017 and has since been exploring the wide world of illustration and animation. Her illustrations are calming, evocative images that invite introspection, often including female subjects who connect the viewer with their own sense of aesthetic balance.

@made_by_parra | anaparra.myportfolio.com

Catherine Choi

It’s Summer! (digital drawing)

Colorful illustration of a summer scene with various people, including children and adults, enjoying a warm day. Some are inside windows, while others are outside, carrying baskets and holding hands. The scene has bright, cheerful colors.

Hi! I’m Catherine Choi, a food lover and recent illustration graduate from the London College of Communication. I love storytelling and am working to pursue a career in children’s book illustration and product packaging. I hope to create art that both kids and adults around the world can connect with, no matter their background.

@cath_choiii | cathchoi.myportfolio.com/work

Daryl Rainbow

Ladies of Wick (digital drawing)

A colorful illustration of a busy canal scene with boats, people, and ducks. The foreground shows a dog in a yellow raincoat in a small boat with two women, one in red and blue and the other in white, holding a fishing rod. Ducks and ducklings swim nearby. In the background, there's a house with a large graffiti-style sign reading 'TICKED' and a bridge with people relaxing and socializing on it, along with trees and buildings.

I was born in the Philippines and have lived in London since I was 3. I studied illustration at Camberwell College of the Arts. My work usually illustrates the worlds of sport, entertainment, current events and Londonisms. I also work as an assistant lecturer at Ravensbourne University. Currently I am represented by Studio PI agency. Clients have included: Adidas, Amazon, Arsenal, COPA90, Creative Review, Harry’s, Netflix, Time Out, Under Armour, etc.

@daryl_rainbow | darylrainbow.co.uk

Daryl Rainbow

Moped Crossing the Estate (digital drawing)

Two young men riding a motorcycle on a street, one pointing upward and the other giving a thumbs up, both wearing masks. The street is littered with trash, and the background features multicolored buildings and a cloudy sky.

Daryl Rainbow

Death of Field Day (digital drawing)

A group of diverse people at a concert or festival during rain, with some holding drinks, showing expressions of enjoyment and excitement, with colorful tents and trees in the background.
Colorful stylized cityscape featuring landmarks like Tower Bridge, London Underground sign, and a bridge, with street signs indicating Canary Wharf and Reuters Plaza.

Dom Reed

London (acrylic paint)


I am an art/design student based in London, and soon to be transferring my studies to Brighton. While my course is Graphic Design, I like to work across a range of media, particularly image-making through both illustration and photography. This piece was the end result of project looking at London’s cityscape, aiming to capture the contrasts and vibrancy of the capital.

@art.domreed

A collage of iconic London symbols, including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, a red double-decker bus, a British Guard, a royal crown, a black taxi, a fish, and the Union Jack flag, set against a blue background with abstract shapes, clouds, and weather elements like sun and rain.

Elena Tamova 

London (digital drawing)


Elena is a London based illustrator. Largely self-taught, she began her career as a watercolour botanical artist, gradually moving towards a more digitally based approach. Her work is all about celebrating positivity and beauty in the world around us. Being aware of how art can impact the mental health, she is passionate about making illustrations, full of colour and joy.

@elena_tamova_art | behance.net/elenatamova 

Illustration of an outdoor park scene with two colorful monster characters sitting on lounge chairs, one pink and one blue, enjoying ice cream and drinks. A gray dog is next to them on a leash. A food truck labeled "Burger Shack" and an ice cream truck are in the background, with a city skyline and a large yellow sun setting behind buildings and trees.

Emma Cheesman

Summer Days (mixed media)

Based in London, Emma is an illustrator who enjoys experimenting with mixed media to form bright, charismatic artwork that is full of joy and energy. She is drawn towards creating short, snappy narratives that play upon everyday situations told through odd, topsy-turvy characters which she hopes will inspire and educate her audience. 

@oddsandems | oddsandems.co.uk

A collage of U.K. landmarks, flowers, and cultural symbols against a blue background, featuring Big Ben, a telescope, a red telephone booth, a ferris wheel, and various flowers and people.

Elizabeth O’Farrelly

London in Bloom (collage)


Elizabeth is an artist currently studying Fine Art in London. Having previously studied animation, her work blurs the lines between installation and stop-motion, using such mediums alongside painting to explore language and music in a practice that has recently culminated in her first exhibition, ‘Immaterial, Material’. 

 @elizabeth.ofarrelly | elizabethofarrelly.com

Illustration of a woman with green hair standing among white flowers, joyful with arms outstretched, and a woman with red hair sitting on a double-decker bus. A woman with long brown hair and a floral dress is sitting on the top of a red bus, stretching out her arm. There is a pink flowering tree, a building with multiple windows, and the London Underground sign. The sky shows the sun and a skyscraper, with pink petals falling.

Grusha Tiwari

Harmony Amidst Urban Symphony (digital drawing)


Grusha is an Indian illustrator and visual storyteller based in London. A graduate of the University of Arts London, she is fueled by a profound passion for storytelling and the creation of immersive, inclusive, and multisensory books for children. In her creative journey, Grusha aspires to find joy and fulfillment, continuously seeking new avenues to explore and enjoy the boundless wonders of her craft.

@grushatea | grushatiwari.co.uk 

Illustration of St. James Square in Mussel, featuring a church with a tall spire and a modern entertainment venue with neon signs and urban surroundings, including a bicycle with flowers and a dog walking nearby.

Hilary Masetti

The Everyman, Muswell Hill (colour pencil)


Hilary is an Urban Landscape Artist, based in Muswell Hill, North London. She is inspired by the beautiful architecture found in all pockets of London and aims to capture all the fabulous architectural detail in her work. All Hilary’s work is all hand-drawn using ink and watercolour pencil or ink and brush pen. She sells giclee prints of her work at many local fairs and markets.

hilarysketches.co.uk

People enjoying a picnic and relaxing in a park near a lake, with ducks swimming, lush trees, and iconic London skyline in the background.

Isabella Kuijers

London Park Life (digital drawing)



Isabella kuijers is a South African artist living in London. She has had five solo exhibitions in Cape Town and recently completed her MFA at London Metropolitan University. 

@is_it_bella_k_yes | isabellakuijers.myportfolio.com

A detailed drawing of a row of red brick townhouses with blue windows, set against a faint cityscape outline. Labeled "Muswell Hill, London" at the bottom left.

Hilary Masetti

Hillfield Park, Muswell Hill (colour pencil)


An illustration of people relaxing in a park with trees, grass, and city buildings in the background. Two children are sitting on a blanket with a dog nearby; one child is reading, and the other is lying down. In the background, some people are walking, and others are skating or sitting.

Katie Handley

Park People (digital drawing)



Katie Handley is a London-based comic artist and illustrator. Her work has been published in CBK comics anthology and shown at Somerset House. Katie studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins and has self-published three comics; Nigel Donnington and the Cat Cafe Anarchists, Cryptofox and Steak.

Katie grew up in a tiny village in the Lancashire countryside and takes much of her inspiration from this area. Often her work focuses on themes of power and comedic attempts to control a chaotic world.

@katiehandleymakesthings | katiehandley.co.uk

A summer picnic scene with a large glass of lemonade with lemon slices and ice cubes, two straws, a bottle of raspberry soda, a can of soda, a soccer ball, a basket, a plate of berries, a small plate with stickers, a photograph, a spoon, and various small snack items on a picnic blanket.

Lilian Leung

Summer in Hyde Park (digital drawing)


Lilian Leung is an illustrator and designer based in London and Hong Kong. Currently studying at the University of the Arts London, she enjoys creating digital illustrations but also experimenting with printmaking, such as risography and screenprinting. Her playful and optimistic illustrations draw inspiration from her interest in visual metaphors, social issues, and ducks.

@lilixn.png

A watercolor sketch of a city street scene featuring tall modern skyscrapers, older low-rise buildings, pedestrians walking on the sidewalk, cars on the street, a green tree, and a decorative orange fence along the sidewalk.

Toks Abiose

Guys at Dawn (ink, watercolour and digital colour)

Like so many book lovers, I grew up wanting to write myself. In my twenties, I would avoid friends so I could walk around London, writing in my notebooks – I walked and wrote. I would begin writing from the back pages of notebooks and I would doodle and draw in the blank front pages. Over the years, notebooks slowly became sketchbooks, doodles became illustration projects, and I eventually drew London more than I wrote London. I am currently adding finishing touches to my first full-length Graphic novel, ‘A Whole Chance’.

@a.whole.chance.by.tokipaper | tokipaper.com

A stylized illustration of a person relaxing on top of a red double-decker bus in an urban setting with a bus stop and buildings in the background. The person is lying back, holding an umbrella, and appears to be sleeping or resting with their eyes closed. Above, there are clouds with a bottle of Pimm's, a jar with strawberries, and a pigeon flying by.

Lucinda Strol

Untitled (digital drawing)


Lucinda is a 22 year old graphic designer and illustrator from the Hudson Valley, New York. She’s been living in London since August 2022 and currently works full-time as a graphic designer at an interior design studio. Her work is inspired by color, nature, travel, and music. 

@1ucindastrol | lucindastrol.co

Collection of nine colorful, abstract watercolor flowers arranged in a 3x3 grid, each with unique shapes and designs.

Ziqi Zhou

Flower (collage)


Ziqi Zhou base in London. Her work revolves around sculpture and painting while questioning social and cultural views while Discussing the relationship between contemporary people and society. With the help of computer-generated images, she creates a universe of images where objects and spaces create a mysterious miniature theatre.

@ziqi_painting | ziqiqi.cargo.site

3 Runners Up

A colorful painting depicting trees with pink leaves illuminated by a large bright moon, with a sign in the foreground that reads 'Please believe these days will pass' and a small house at the bottom.

Amy Brownlee

Daisy Dreams, Shoreditch (colour pencil)

Amy Brownlee is a London-based illustrator from Scotland. Moving to London has had a huge impact on her artistic style and body of work, as she is constantly inspired by the city and its inhabitants. Amy works with paint and pencil, using shape and colour to evoke energy and movement.

@amybrownleeillustration | www.amybrownlee.com

A colorful illustration of multiple people and a few animals standing or walking, organized in rows against a white background.

Lana Lê

London Line Dance (gouache painting)

Lana Lê – aka woolypear –  is an American illustrator who specialises in portraits, sequential art, and is based in London. Currently, she’s drawing a graphic memoir about a birthmarked war refugee. Active in her creative community, Lana organises meet-ups for the Association of Illustrators, LD Comics, and hosts Artist Chats. She also teaches drawing and facilitates craft workshops. 

@woolypear | woolypear.com

A colorful, cartoon-style illustration of two women relaxing outdoors on a sunny summer day, sipping drinks, lying on towels, surrounded by snacks, a butterfly, and a bottle of wine. The sun is shining with a bright and cheerful sky.

Palak Garg

Summer in London (digital drawing)

I am an Indian illustrator and printmaker based in London. As a visual storyteller, my job is to make engaging visuals with community at its centre. I love to experiment with digital and analogue techniques in my work. Every project is different to me and requires a visual language tailored to it. I love making quirky characters in colourful environments that reflect feelings of hope, happiness and peace. 

@palak_illustrator

Overall Winner

A vibrant illustration of a lively outdoor gathering with people enjoying a picnic and party atmosphere, surrounded by trees, buildings, and a colorful sky with clouds.

Daryl Rainbow

London Fields Liberating the People (digital drawing)

I was born in the Philippines and have lived in London since I was 3. I studied illustration at Camberwell College of the Arts. My work usually illustrates the worlds of sport, entertainment, current events and Londonisms. I also work as an assistant lecturer at Ravensbourne University. Currently I am represented by Studio PI agency. Clients have included: Adidas, Amazon, Arsenal, COPA90, Creative Review, Harry’s, Netflix, Time Out, Under Armour, etc.

@daryl_rainbow | darylrainbow.co.uk

A person holding a colorful postcard or magazine with an illustration of people enjoying summer outdoors, with buildings and trees in the background, against a blue sky with clouds.