Lauren Cory

From Edinburgh to London to Bristol, Scottish illustrator Lauren Cory has always sought out creative networks and spaces. "The support you get from knowing creatives is so important to keep going with your art,” says Lauren. Since her residency at Edinburgh’s Out of the Blueprint, she’s gained traction with her soft, warm-paletted illustrations studded with pixel patterns. Below, Lauren stresses the importance of personal projects and how the work you put out there is the work you attract.

What I do

My creative practice
I’m a freelance illustrator; my practice is about continuing my curiosity in drawing and design. The majority of my illustration income comes from my own prints: selling them online and at various art markets. I do this alongside paid commissions that can vary from editorial to album artworks to event posters.

Influences and inspiration
Bristol as a city is an incredibly creative place, and I have met many incredible artists and welcoming communities here. There are a lot of grassroots local artist exhibitions at The Island and Centrespace – places I’m constantly inspired by. I’m also always inspired by my studio mates and the artist communities I meet at art markets, exhibitions and open studio events.

I love collecting cross-stitch sampler books from charity shops to inspire my pixel borders.

My training
I studied art for many years, but the majority of my freelance skills came from learning on the job. No commission is the same, so I’m constantly relearning processes to fit the project. The most valuable skills I learnt from university were how to generate new ideas, how to draw from observation and how to draw quickly!

Favourite recent project
My 2026 risograph calendar. I hadn’t made a product as ambitious as that before, and I didn’t expect it to reach so many people online. I got to combine all my design loves with this project - risograph, pixel art, landscape drawing and layouts.

A day in the life
Every day is wildly different! I enjoy getting outside and drawing in my sketchbook to help kickstart ideas for when I go to my studio. In my studio, I usually deal with admin for the first hour, then read some illustration comics and zines to get inspired. Then I experiment with drawing and try to push out as many images as I can, good and bad, as you never know what might become a bigger project later down the line!

How I got here

Starting my creative journey
I’m still on a journey of figuring things out. I was lucky to be chosen for a residency after graduating from Out of the Blueprint in my hometown in Edinburgh. This opportunity gave me a studio space, access to printmaking facilities and some money so that I could solely focus on my own art practice for three months. It was an extremely valuable experience, and it helped me find my own voice and illustration style. The work I created from the residency got the attention of It’s Nice That; as a result of being published by them, I was contacted by several clients.

Landing my first few jobs, clients and/or commissions
Clients reached out to me at first, but it is definitely a case of finding the job sometimes. I find that the work you put out in the world is the work you will end up attracting, so making stuff you genuinely enjoy creating means you will get to work on projects aligned with you.

Biggest challenges along the way
My biggest challenge was losing my creative network after university. I went to university in London, but am originally from Edinburgh, so I moved home while the majority of my friends stayed down south. I struggled at first to find a supportive creative network in Edinburgh, but that changed once I started my artist residency. Having a studio really helps with this, as I’m always around people working on illustration who can give advice.

My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
Sometimes, the majority of the work is how you share your drawings online. I used to spend mornings in my studio scanning drawings I had made the previous day and preparing them to be posted on Instagram and my website.

Social media is like a snowball: it can start small but with periods of regular and persistent posting, you’d be surprised how big your audience can grow!

Three things I've found useful in my career:

Courses, programmes, initiatives, access schemes or job boards I've found helpful

My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative:
When work and commissions are quiet, it's a great opportunity to work on your own projects. The majority of my commissions come from people seeing the artwork I make in my free time, and you never know what a drawing could lead to!

Organising invoices also really helps – making it clear when projects have been paid or are overdue.

My advice

My most useful career tips
Surround yourself with creatives! Going to exhibitions, events, art markets and open studios is a great way to connect with local artists in your city/town. A lot of opportunities come from your creative network, and the support you get from knowing creatives is so important to keep going with your art!

What I'd say to someone looking to get into a similar role
Make work for yourself primarily. Make work you enjoy creating and you will attract an audience who values what you make. Making a website or Instagram that you can show to people in person or via email is really great to get across what you make to people quickly. And don’t be scared to try new things for your portfolio – you never know how your voice might evolve.