Sonny Ross’ illustrations are a hidden gem on Instagram. Sticking to the three primary colors (with some added greens and pinks), his work emits comfort, coziness, and warmth—qualities which are far and few in these uncertain days of quarantine.
Based in the UK, Ross graduated from Birmingham City University in 2014 with a degree in Illustration and has since worked as a freelance illustrator. “I’m a freelance illustrator, which affords me the opportunity to work for whomever I like,” he explained in an interview with Lecture in Progress.
His work includes anything from editorial work to children’s books. “One day, I could be working on a really serious news piece and the next could be some light-hearted design work, I like that part of my work,” he notes.
His clients include publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Telegraph, to name a few. Working with these publications often means tackling loaded topics, but Ross’ playful style often makes such subjects more approachable.
His advice for other aspiring illustrators? “Prepare to work very hard for a while—it will cool off, but early on just keeping gaining experience and getting your voice heard. But my best advice would be to turn off at 5 pm. Working yourself to death isn’t cool and nobody will thank you for it.”
