Gabriel Van Giap

BA (Hons) Illustration

An exploration into environmental and urban landscape with cartoon influenced narratives has been predominantly shown and evolved throughout my Illustration experience, each step through experimenting with new mediums has helped me to create imagery I feel is fun, abstract and true to my imagination.

Different themes of comics, expressionism, graffiti style, natural growth and urban architecture flow through my thought process on a daily basis, which allow me to indulge myself in my work inside an imaginational world of crazy trippy lands and characters.

Inside my last year of Illustration, a theme of the nature is shown, a comic I created with the message of the importance of unity and growth shown inside two separate worlds we live in. Also making a collection of colourful and fun wooden board paintings created through acrylic and spray-paint stencil, both showing how everything in nature around us can be seen as alive and moving even if we do not see it with our own eyes. It is very important to me to keep sketching your conscious thoughts and to create work for self-pleasure and happiness, and that my illustration journey will always be evolving.


Dangosir ac esblygir ymchwiliad i dirluniau amgylcheddol a threfol gyda naratifau y dylanwadir gan gartwnau trwy gydol fy mhrofiad Darlunio, mae pob cam trwy arbrofi gyda chyfryngau newydd wedi fy helpu i greu delweddaeth yr wyf yn teimlo ei fod yn ddifyr, yn haniaethol ac yn wir i fy nychymyg.

Mae themâu gwahanol comigau, mynegiadaeth, arddull graffiti, twf naturiol a phensaernïaeth drefol yn llifo trwy fy mhrosesau meddwl ar sail bob dydd, gan fy ngalluogi i ymhyfrydu yn fy ngwaith o fewn byd llawn dychymyg o diroedd a chymeriadau gwallgof a swreal.

Yn fy mlwyddyn olaf o ddylunio, dangosir thema o natur, creais gomig sydd â neges am bwysigrwydd undod a thwf wedi’i ddangos o fewn dau fyd gwahanol rydym yn byw ynddynt. Hefyd, creu casgliad o baentiadau bwrdd pren lliwgar a digrif a grëwyd trwy stensil acrylig a phaent chwistrell, gan ddangos sut y gellir gweld popeth o fewn natur o’n cwmpas yn fyw ac yn symud hyd yn oed os nad ydym yn ei weld gyda’n llygaid ein hunain. Mae’n bwysig iawn i mi barhau i fraslunio eich meddyliau ymwybodol a chreu gwaith er hunan-bleser a hapusrwydd, ac y bydd fy nhaith trwy ddarlunio’n esblygu trwy’r amser.

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,...