Susan Hellard

Susan Hellard is an illustrator with a long and distinguished career, whose extensive archive offers a rich resource for licensing. Her work is characterised by fluid line, gentle colour and a warm, observant humour that captures the nuances of everyday life.

Working primarily in pen and ink with delicate colour washes, Susan’s illustrations have a timeless, hand-drawn quality. Her acute powers of observation—of people, animals and behaviour—give her work a distinctive charm, often revealing the humour and poignancy in the ordinary with just a few economical strokes.

She has illustrated numerous books, including four collections of comic poetry by Pam Ayres, where her expressive drawings work in perfect harmony with the text. Alongside her publishing work, she has produced regular editorial illustrations and continues to build a substantial and varied body of work.

Susan’s imagery translates beautifully into licensing, particularly for greeting cards, where her wit, character and narrative detail lend themselves naturally to engaging and commercially appealing ranges.

Currently artist in residence at Hampstead Ponds in London, her latest work continues to reflect her keen eye for observation and will be exhibited at the end of the season.