Creative Manifesto

Sophia Watts is an illustrator from Nottingham, currently based in Leeds/UK. She is about to graduate from Leeds Arts University with a degree in Illustration.

Taking inspiration from historical or cultural references, she works mainly with colour, shape and texture to execute her ideas. Creating a visual narrative is an integral part of Sophia's practice and can usually be found within a single image, depicting moments within a story.

From a young age, children's book illustration is an area that Sophia has been fascinated with, and a field she enjoys working in. As well as publishing and editorial illustration, briefs of a theatrical nature have also always appealed to her. This interest which began outside of her creative practice has informed the way in which she makes images. Pacing a narrative, describing a tone/atmosphere, and including details of costume and scenery are all elements that are considered within Sophia's work.

For the Left Bank Opera Festival I had to send over a photograph and a biography for them to include in a feature on my practice that will be in the event programme. I already had basically a shorter version of this, but I feel that I know how to define my practice a bit more now!