Philip Picondo

BA (Hons) Illustration

My practice revolves around narrative exploration, a pursuit of normalcy, strangeness, and understandable forms. I aim to develop a language interrogating the strange and novel, the notion of a “new normal” all through painterly strokes and abstractions – even through representational art. Using a combination of traditional and digital, I can merge the physicality of watercolour and pencil and layer over them using painterly digital techniques. By applying these methods, it becomes possible to apply modern approaches to the facets of traditional painterly paintings.

Above all, I treasure the dynamic energy of an illustrator’s piece. I am investigating ways of communicating in visual mediums, finding narrative devices even in the unconventional, and what relates to an audience. My venture as an illustrator, I feel, is to convey those different viewpoints through visual storytelling and language. Flipping beyond the perspectives of others through not only what we might find in the real world, but through the fictional worlds in the fringes of our imagination.


Mae fy arfer yn cylchdroi o gwmpas ymchwilio i naratif, dilyn normalrwydd, dieithrwch a ffurfiau dealladwy. Rwy’n anelu at ddefnyddio iaith sy’n croesholi’r ddieithr a’r normal, y syniad o “normal newydd” i gyd trwy strociau arluniol a haniaethau – hyd yn oed trwy gelf gynrychioliadol. Gan ddefnyddio cyfuniad o’r traddodiadol a’r digidol, gallaf gyfuno naws ffisegol dyfrlliw a phensil a rhoi haenau drostynt gan ddefnyddio technegau arluniol digidol. Trwy gymhwyso’r dulliau hyn, mae’n mynd yn bosib cymhwyso dulliau modern i nodweddion paentiadau arluniol traddodiadol.

Uwchlaw popeth rwy’n trysori egni deinamig darn y darlunydd. Rwy’n ymchwilio i ddulliau cyfathrebu mewn cyfryngau gweledol, gan ddod o hyd i ddyfeisiau naratif hyd yn oed yn yr anghonfensiynol, a’r hyn sy’n gysylltu â chynulleidfa. Teimlaf mai fy menter fel darlunydd yw cyfleu’r safbwyntiau gwahanol hynny trwy adrodd storïau’n weledol ac iaith. Gan fflipio y tu hwnt i bersbectifau pobl eraill nid yn unig trwy’r hyn y byddwn efallai yn dod o hyd iddo yn y byd go iawn, ond trwy’r bydoedd ffugiol ar gyrion ein dychymyg.

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,...