Ekaterina Gorelova, a woman who never saw herself taking on a creative career is now a full-time illustrator exclusively represented by Art Lab Agency based in Armenia.

While growing up, Ekaterina never imagined herself working in a creative field, despite being a very creative child. She would collect comics from DC and Marvel and draw the illustrations on T-shirts of her friends and family. Growing up in a small village, she never saw someone with a career in the arts and didn’t imagine her life to be any different. 

When she finished school, she decided to go to art school to learn to draw and design. 

‘It was either that or I would have probably chosen architecture or fashion design.’

Despite choosing graphic design, it eventually proved to be a very important year of her life that would direct her to illustration. During that time, she met her first mentor, who encouraged her to create an Instagram account dedicated to her art. This would later prove to be a huge step for her and her career. Her mentor would also arrange for her to go to art fairs to help her try and sell her art.

Her art features personified animals and people in big, bold shapes and colours. Her cartoon-like figures with small faces bring out a playful style seen often in children’s books and animated shows. She adds a unique personal touch to her work by incorporating a scratchy, scribbly texture as though they are drawn on paper even though the art is digitally produced.

‘My art style doesn’t have too many details, as when I take off my glasses, all I see is smooth colour.’

By the time she finished her degree, she had done multiple small illustration jobs for cafes, publishers, and small companies. 

‘I really liked it and wanted to do more. But there were very few opportunities and very little salary. So, I tried to find another way. It didn’t help that the pandemic had started around this time. All the art fairs had been cancelled. I thought I had failed.’

Instead of giving up, she officially decided to pursue her career as an illustrator full-time. Ekaterina emailed agencies across the UK and Europe, despite many people in her life telling her that it was pointless as no one would respond. She would then get her first job with Bright Agency, illustrating a collection of books for Oxford Press. The books consisted of topics surrounding activism and feminism. 

‘They were my first English books. At the beginning of those two years, I barely spoke English and my husband had to translate the text for me.’

Whilst she is not working with Bright Agency anymore, she stays in touch with them.

For a while, Ekaterina worked independently, collaborating with art and culture development in Uzbekistan, where she met her current agent, Anya, from Art Lab Agency. Anya would help Ekaterina’s dream come true by pitching her book idea. The book would feature illustrations of animals and seasons, where the animals would do cute things depending on the weather such as skiing near their city. This book is in the making and her agent is seeking a publisher. 

‘I really like to travel, so I am hoping for the second book to be about animals travelling around different cities.’

Her first book was a project inspired by her cat Zelda, who she found on the street four years ago. It was during the beginning of her career as an illustrator, she wrote and illustrated a story about a kitten and a crow who were the best of friends. Recently, Ekaterina came across a viral TikTok video of a crow and a young boy being close friends which reminded her of her own story. She reached out to the original creator of the viral video and hopes to start another book based on their story. 

By far her favourite project was creating illustrations for a library of art and culture development. Her designs were spread across a bus that brought children to and from the library. 

Ekaterina states that currently, she is happily working for another one of her dream clients, Samsung. 

‘When I was a child, my first phone was a Samsung. Now we are working together on a book and an app for English fanatics. I am very excited.’

She hopes to keep getting new projects working alongside major brands such as Flying Eye Books and Netflix. 

‘I really like my work. I like creating things both digitally and in the real world. I don’t want any other job, it’s all I want to do. I like highlighting details of my life in my books and leave little easter eggs in my illustrations. I also like crocheting big thing and use silk screen printing for my projects. I have even made my own boardgame by printing it on fabric. I just really like making many things with my hands.’ 

You can find Ekaterina’s illustration on the Art Lab Agency website and Art Lab’s Instagram,

Be sure to check out her own Instagram @grelagorela and TikTok @katya_grealagorela.

_

Maria Schmidt is a writer and painter based in Chester. Invited back by the University as a Learning Facilitator immediately after completing her degrees in Literature, Creative Writing, and Fine Art, Maria Schmidt dedicates her time in helping others, improving her own craft and developing creative projects. Fluent in four languages with a background in dance and theatre, Maria is incredibly fascinated by the arts and determined to promote others and their own work. She has high ambition in paving a way for herself in both the world of Traditional Painting and Publishing.