Aneurin Hughes

BA (Hons) Illustration

Please note that some viewers might find some of the images below upsetting or disturbing. Please proceed with caution.

Much of my illustration work in general is laden with an underlying sense of the uncanny and uncomfortable, often with this being intended as a metaphor for internal struggles or emotions that might be difficult to convey through words. My focus is on atmosphere and mood, aiming to have the viewer’s reaction to my work mirror the emotions of the characters present within them. I often use garish or unnatural colours and combine different media as a means to further push the ideas of unreality and strangeness that are present in the imagery.

This project is largely driven by my love for graphic novels, and how even a single static image can contain an infinite amount of storytelling potential. Though the bulk of this work was not intended to be created in a narrative comic format or with a conventional overarching narrative structure, the pieces in this project are filtered through the lens of the potential wider story that might exist beyond the borders of each image. I encourage the audience to become a participant and look at my work without too much guidance or explanation; ambiguity and individual interpretation are where I believe some of the most interesting stories are found.


Yn gyffredinol, mae llawer o fy ngwaith darlunio yn llawn ymdeimlad o’r anghyfarwydd a’r anghyfforddus, a bwriad hynny fel arfer yw creu trosiad ar gyfer emosiynau neu frwydrau mewnol sy’n gallu bod yn anodd i’w cyfleu mewn geiriau. Rwy’n canolbwyntio ar awyrgylch a naws, ac yn anelu i ennyn ymateb gan yr arsyllwr sy’n adlewyrchu emosiynau’r cymeriadau sy’n cael eu cyflwyno yn y gwaith. Rwy’n aml yn defnyddio lliwiau gorliwgar neu annaturiol ac yn cyfuno gwahanol gyfryngau fel ffordd o wthio syniadau am afrealrwydd a hynodrwydd sy’n bresennol yn y ddelweddaeth.

Mae’r prosiect yma’n cael ei yrru i raddau helaeth gan fy hoffter o nofelau graffig, a sut gall un llun llonydd gynnwys swm diddiwedd o straeon posib. Er nad y bwriad ar gyfer y rhan helaeth o’r gwaith oedd ei greu ar ffurf fformat stribed comig neu strwythur naratif trosfwaol confensiynol, mae’r darnau yn y prosiect yma’n cael eu hidlo drwy lens y stori ehangach bosib a allai fodoli y tu hwnt i ffiniau pob delwedd. Rwy’n annog y gynulleidfa i ddod yn gyfranogwyr ac i edrych ar fy ngwaith heb lawer o arweiniad nac esboniad; rwy’n credu bod rhai o’r straeon mwyaf diddorol yn deillio o amwysedd a dehongliad unigolion.

Other Exhibitors:

Imogen Miles

Imogen Miles

My current project looks into the story of St Dwynwen, a Welsh princess who became a saint- the welsh patron St of Lovers. She is celebrated throughout wales on the 25th of January. I was interested in this story after hearing about St Dwynwens day and doing some...

Katie Andrews

Katie Andrews

Reconnecting and rebuilding our relationship with the natural world is as vital as ever. My illustration practice focuses on creating educational and decorative patterned homeware and giftware products which will inspire people to become more in sync and appreciative...

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

My project is a response to a brief inspired by the Apila’s First Printing Award 2022. The aim was to create a fully illustrated children’s book based on a story of my choice – ‘The Frog Princess’ by A. J. Gliński. I wanted to combine the Polish culture with my...

Ellen Richards

Ellen Richards

As ân artist, I am particularly interested in creating work which explores subjects which are tailored to a certain demographic. The topics are relevant and meaningful to a specific individual, whether it be something they have experienced in their past or are...

Polly Allburn

Polly Allburn

My illustration work has culminated in an experimental assortment of objects that communicate the interconnected relationship between parent and child. Breaking down the power dynamic and allowing for a collaborative experience where parents can empathise with their...

Thalia Dougourou

Thalia Dougourou

Using both visual and lexical storytelling, I explore African history and culture while investigating its absence in the learning of young black students. Growing up in the UK, I became aware that the black history being taught in schools did not go beyond slavery,...