I am a creative, adaptable, and independent French illustrator with a BA in Graphic Arts and Illustration. Fluent in English, I have a strong passion for visual storytelling and enjoy working with both children and adults. I am reliable, organised, and always eager to expand my skills. With experience teaching illustration classes and participating regularly in cultural events and festivals, I bring a warm and professional energy to any team or collaboration. I have worked on various illustration projects, including fairy tale books and short story collections, often combining digital drawing and narrative composition. I am ready and motivated to relocate to the UK. I would require a Skilled Worker visa, and I’m actively looking for a company willing to sponsor my application. (I’m available to start remotely if needed while the visa process is arranged.)…

Sarah Chonavel

I am a creative, adaptable, and independent French illustrator with a BA in Graphic Arts and Illustration. Fluent in English, I have a strong passion for visual storytelling and enjoy working with both children and adults. I am reliable, organised, and always eager to expand my skills. With experience teaching illustration classes and participating regularly in cultural events and festivals, I bring a warm and professional energy to any team or collaboration. I have worked on various illustration projects, including fairy tale books and short story collections, often combining digital drawing and narrative composition. I am ready and motivated to relocate to the UK. I would require a Skilled Worker visa, and I’m actively looking for a company willing to sponsor my application. (I’m available to start remotely if needed while the visa process is arranged.)…

Available to hire

I am a creative, adaptable, and independent French illustrator with a BA in Graphic Arts and Illustration. Fluent in English, I have a strong passion for visual storytelling and enjoy working with both children and adults. I am reliable, organised, and always eager to expand my skills.

With experience teaching illustration classes and participating regularly in cultural events and festivals, I bring a warm and professional energy to any team or collaboration. I have worked on various illustration projects, including fairy tale books and short story collections, often combining digital drawing and narrative composition. I am ready and motivated to relocate to the UK. I would require a Skilled Worker visa, and I’m actively looking for a company willing to sponsor my application.
(I’m available to start remotely if needed while the visa process is arranged.)

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Language

French
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Drawing Workshop Facilitator at Centre Social de Douai
December 31, 2025 - July 26, 2025
Led illustration classes for children in a primary school, with a focus on comics and storytelling.
Freelance drawing tutor at Independent
December 31, 2025 - July 26, 2025
Provided drawing tutoring services on a freelance basis from 2023 to 2025, focusing on illustration.
Cultural Events & Festival Exhibitor at Independent
January 1, 2023 - Present
Regular participation in independent illustration stands and cultural fairs across Lille, Brebières, and Vitry-en-Artois.
Drawing Workshop Facilitator at Centre Social de Douai
December 31, 2025 - July 26, 2025
Led illustration classes for children in a primary school, focusing on comics and storytelling.
Drawing Tutor at independent
June 6, 2023 - July 2, 2025
Provided freelance drawing lessons focusing on illustration skills.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree at Brassart School, Lille, France
September 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
High school diploma at French High School
September 1, 2018 - June 30, 2022

Qualifications

Winner of the national poster contest ADEAF middle school category
May 9, 2018 - May 9, 2018
Creation of a catch phrase and an illustration for the association ADEAF which promotes the friendship between French student learning German, and German students learning French

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Consumer Goods
    paper Comic Project for Instagram – Concept & Visual Storytelling
    This project is an original sci-fi comic concept I created for Instagram, designed to showcase my ability to develop engaging characters, build narrative rhythm, and deliver consistent, cliffhanger-based episodes. The story follows Samantha, a bold and emotionally complex queer character, as she tries to uncover the truth behind a mysterious crime. Although she’s older than the readers, she is meant to be magnetic and inspiring — someone they can root for. The series targets teenagers and young adults (15+), with a strong focus on inclusivity and character diversity. Each character is designed to reflect different identities, personalities, and lived experiences, so that readers can see themselves in the cast. The comic is structured as weekly 10-panel Instagram episodes, each ending on a cliffhanger to keep the audience engaged. It’s a hybrid format between webcomic and digital serial storytelling, with an emphasis on dynamic pacing, emotional depth, and visual clarity. Through this project, I aimed to demonstrate my speed, narrative instinct, character design skills, and ability to work within a modern, digital-first publishing model. illustrator scenario…
    paper Book Concept – Comics & Character Illustration Sample
    This short illustrated comic project was created to show my ability to develop visual storytelling in a limited time. I designed it in an original format, between poster and comic strip, to keep the layout dynamic while showcasing character design, composition, and rhythm — all within just two weeks. I imagined two characters, Isis and Kim, both driven by music and creativity. I wanted to express their personalities visually — through posture, expressions, and colour — more than long narration. This was also a way for me to explore band dynamics, identity, and a youthful energy in a bold, stylised comic style. I'm a young French illustrator, and I love mixing influences from French BD, manga, and animated storytelling. I draw everything myself, and I’m used to working fast with clear creative direction. This concept shows that I can build appealing characters, set a tone, and deliver comic-style pages quickly when needed. If you're looking for someone to bring life and colour to your stories — I’d love to be part of your next project! illustrator comics…
    paper PORTFOLIO Darya Chonavel
    This portfolio showcases a selection of my 2D illustrations, featuring both personal projects and commissioned work. You’ll find a variety of character designs, narrative pieces, and poster illustrations — some created independently to explore storytelling and visual identity, others made for clients or art events. I focus on expressive composition, atmosphere, and stylised anatomy. Tools: Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint.…