An 11 year old Iella making a model in papier mache'.
Hi, I'm iella! A migrant from sunny Malta, resident in London, UK. Primarily a designer and visual artist, my exciting career path has moulded me into a creative industry unicorn: digital multimedia specialist, illustrator, storyboarder, consumer product designer, board game designer, and graffiti artist!
I graduated with a BA in Art History from the University of Malta in 2011, followed by an MA in Communication Design (illustration) at Kingston University in 2013.
My personal work is influenced by 90s animation, video games and nature. It tends to be figurative and representational, and I often explore themes of fantasy, climate change, existentialism and personal experiences.
My personal work is influenced by 90s animation, video games and nature. It tends to be figurative and representational, and I often explore themes of fantasy, climate change, existentialism and personal experiences.
I'm an active sketchbook keeper and life drawing fanatic. You'll often find me in different London drawing groups.
In 2014 I was hired by Warner Media / Cartoon Network where I worked as a designer and illustrator till August 2023, when I decided to go freelance.
Selected client list includes:
Exhibitions
Solo
EVERYDAY PEOPLE, April 2023, Christine X Art Gallery, Sliema, Malta
Solo
EVERYDAY PEOPLE, April 2023, Christine X Art Gallery, Sliema, Malta
DYING PLANET, 2022, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta
Take me home part 3, 2022, Solo exhibition, M2 Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Take me home part 2, 2021, Solo exhibition, Desko, Valletta, Malta
Take me home part 1, 2021, Solo exhibition, Hoxton 253 Art Project Space, London, UK
Group
Group
Royal Society of British Artists (RBSA) annual exhibition, 2024, Group Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
Gegwigija 7.0, 2023, Group Exhibition, Rosa Kwir, Malta.
From Illustration to Book, Malta book fair, 2023, Group Exhibition, MFCC, Malta.
WOM Collective: WOM INSPIRED 23, Group exhibition, Penge East outdoor gallery, London, UK
The Affordable Art Fair London - Spring 2023 edition, Art Fair, Under Christine X Curated, London, UK
The Nude '21, 2021, Group exhibition, Candid arts trust, London, UK
Artna (Our Land) 2020, Group exhibition, Online
Larger than Life! 2020, Group exhibition, Desko, Valletta
Selfie 2014, Studio 104, Group exhibition, Valletta
Strange People Illustration Show, 2014, FZ FIFTEEN, Taipei,Taiwan
Kingston University illustration MA group show 2013, London, UK
Flow 2012, FLOW Showroom launch at: FLOW, Lija, Malta
Art residencies
BigCi - Bilpin International ground for creative initiatives, Artist in residence July 2023, regional Sydney, NSW, Australia
Prizes and Grants
Arts Council Malta, 2023, Project support grant for ‘MIGRATION NATION’
Arts Council Malta, 2023, Training grant for ‘Royal drawing School, Autumn Intensive’
Arts Council Malta, 2020, Project support grant for ‘Take me Home’
Press (external links)
Times of Malta - Barf bag art 2023
Times of Malta - EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023
Independent - EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023
Times of Malta - Affordable Art Fair London 2023
Interview with Malta Community of Illustrators 2022
Times of Malta - DYING PLANET 2022
Spazju Kreattiv - DYING PLANET 2022
SBS Australia (Maltese) interview - Take me home part 3 2022
Lovin Malta - Sydney visit and Take me Home part 3 2022
Take me home: exhibition review by Ramona Depares from 2021
Lovinmalta feature, 2021
Times of Malta: Artna online exhibition 2020
Larger than Life! Group show press, 2019
Gadgetsmalta Interview, 2018
Time of Malta: Interview from 2017
Indulge.com.mt interview from 2016
Lovinmalta feature, 2016
Time of Malta: Comicon interview from 2015
Maltatoday article: Work update from 2015
TVM video interview from comicon 2015
Interview with photojournalist Joanna Demarco in 2014
Maltatoday article: Crowdfunding my first project, 2013
Archetype newspaper interview from 2012
Times of Malta - Barf bag art 2023
Times of Malta - EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023
Independent - EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023
Times of Malta - Affordable Art Fair London 2023
Interview with Malta Community of Illustrators 2022
Times of Malta - DYING PLANET 2022
Spazju Kreattiv - DYING PLANET 2022
SBS Australia (Maltese) interview - Take me home part 3 2022
Lovin Malta - Sydney visit and Take me Home part 3 2022
Take me home: exhibition review by Ramona Depares from 2021
Lovinmalta feature, 2021
Times of Malta: Artna online exhibition 2020
Larger than Life! Group show press, 2019
Gadgetsmalta Interview, 2018
Time of Malta: Interview from 2017
Indulge.com.mt interview from 2016
Lovinmalta feature, 2016
Time of Malta: Comicon interview from 2015
Maltatoday article: Work update from 2015
TVM video interview from comicon 2015
Interview with photojournalist Joanna Demarco in 2014
Maltatoday article: Crowdfunding my first project, 2013
Archetype newspaper interview from 2012