Lauren Kelso is an Award-Winning Freelance Illustrator from Northern Ireland. Lauren also sells her work through her online shop, in other stores and at various events. Lauren’s pieces are currently stocked in The Designerie in Bushmills, Belfast School of Art Artshop and Hair Haven in Ballymena.

Lauren loves to be experimental within her Illustration practice, using a range of analogue and digital methods to create pieces ready to be displayed in their context.  

For Lauren, the process of creating work is just as important as the final outcome.  Sketchbooks are a very important part of Lauren’s practice as she has the freedom to be playful with various materials, including inks, pastels and paints, helping her find new and exciting ways of working and expand her Illustration practice.  Lauren loves the moment when a project ‘clicks’ and this usually occurs in her sketchbook, forming the basis and direction for the rest of the project.

Lauren graduated in July ‘23 from Ulster University with a First Class Honours Degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. Following graduation, Lauren was selected to be a Graduate in Residence for the Illustration course at Ulster University Belfast School of Art where she is currently completing the First Steps to Teaching course, delivering a range of presentations and workshops to the illustration students, sharing her experiences and also developing her own illustration practice.

When Lauren isn’t drawing, she enjoys travelling to new places, listening to podcasts, finding inspiration within Interior Design and the Fashion industry and watching various documentaries.

Lauren is currently open to enquiries. Please feel free to contact Lauren at info@laurenkelsoillustrator.uk if you would like to talk further about an idea you may have.

Client List:

BBC

Galgorm Resort & Spa

Ulster Orchestra

Basaltsix

Lines & Current Jewellery

Monday’s Child Jewellery

Zara McLaughlin Studio

"Lauren was a pleasure to work with and exceeded our expectations with the final illustration of the iconic Galgorm exterior. From the outset she understood our vision and throughout the process answered any questions we had in a prompt manner."

- Galgorm Resort & Spa

Awards:

Overall Student Winner of the 7th Worldwide FIDA Awards

Winner of Ulster Orchestra Live Merchandise Competition

Top Winner of the Rush Digital Award Prize

Highly Commended in my category at the Regional Northern Ireland Young Traders Final

Shortlisted for NI Social Media Awards in ‘Enterprising Student of the Year’ Category

Press List:

x2 Belfast Live

Belfast Telegraph

BBC

BBC Radio Ulster

NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry

FIDA Worldwide

Ballymena Guardian Newspaper

News Letter

Ulster University

Mighty Women NI

Evolve Women

Irish Arts Review

The Designerie

Reimagine Remake Replay