Hi, I’m Abbey. Nice to meet you! I’m a Freelance Illustrator & Graphic Designer based in Leeds, UK. I’ve been designing in the creative industries for over a decade, working mostly within print design, paper goods and kidswear. I started out illustrating primarily for greetings, and have since worked in a range of creative roles for in-house and remote clients. I founded Studio Colourplay five years ago and love running my own studio specialising in playful visual identities for small businesses, illustration and all things print. I love experimenting with typography, bold colour stories and graphic shapes to create branding, social content and printed matter for a variety of colourful clients.

Abbey Withington

Hi, I’m Abbey. Nice to meet you! I’m a Freelance Illustrator & Graphic Designer based in Leeds, UK. I’ve been designing in the creative industries for over a decade, working mostly within print design, paper goods and kidswear. I started out illustrating primarily for greetings, and have since worked in a range of creative roles for in-house and remote clients. I founded Studio Colourplay five years ago and love running my own studio specialising in playful visual identities for small businesses, illustration and all things print. I love experimenting with typography, bold colour stories and graphic shapes to create branding, social content and printed matter for a variety of colourful clients.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Abbey. Nice to meet you! I’m a Freelance Illustrator & Graphic Designer based in Leeds, UK.

I’ve been designing in the creative industries for over a decade, working mostly within print design, paper goods and kidswear.

I started out illustrating primarily for greetings, and have since worked in a range of creative roles for in-house and remote clients. I founded Studio Colourplay five years ago and love running my own studio specialising in playful visual identities for small businesses, illustration and all things print.

I love experimenting with typography, bold colour stories and graphic shapes to create branding, social content and printed matter for a variety of colourful clients.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Graphic Designer (Freelance) at Self-employed / Various start-ups
January 1, 2019 - Present
From logo design, content for socials, illustrations for web and sustainable printed matter.
Illustrator & Graphic Designer at Umbrella London
June 1, 2019 - August 1, 2019
Worked with the creative agency to develop visual identities for client packaging projects, including logo design, illustration concepts and food product mock-ups; created social content with hand-lettering and illustrations aligned to messaging.
Designer - Greetings & Paper Products at Greetings & Paper Products UK
January 1, 2018 - Present
Illustrating paper goods for commercial clients including Sainsbury's & Asda.
Illustrator & Designer at Tigerprint (M&S)
May 1, 2013 - Present
Working across seasonal product ranges for the M&S customer. Greetings, wrap, & gifting products.
Junior Print Designer - Childrenswear at Joules
August 1, 2014 - October 1, 2016
Creating playful artworks, prints and lettering to be applied across a range of clothing & accessories. Baby, toddler & junior print development, including collaborating with children's wear garment designers and participating in design meetings with the creative team and leads. Producing print tiles, matching Pantone colours and creating detailed manufacturer spec sheets. Liaising with the Shanghai office, including visiting print factories and managing prints strike-offs. Seeing through projects from initial research to the finished textile product.
Illustrator & Designer at Meri Meri
February 1, 2016 - December 1, 2017
Primarily designing for premium Partyware, Greetings, Children's accessories & Homeware. Product mock-ups, liaising with 3D designers & artworkers to create fun and innovative products. Travelling for tradeshows, including set-up & styling of stand. Product styling & creative concepts for social posts as well as photoshoot assisting and organisation.
Studio Residency & Creative Business Mentoring at Duke Studios / Leeds Arts University
January 1, 2018 - June 1, 2018
6-month residency with weekly business mentoring; built website, marketed my work & created first range of products.
Freelance Print & Graphic Designer at Liewood
November 1, 2021 - November 1, 2022
Creating illustrated prints intended for textiles. Designing Stationery/3D products; developing ranges from product concepts to final artwork files.
Designer - Greetings at Hallmark US
December 1, 2021 - June 1, 2022
Illustrating contemporary greetings cards intended for the American market.
Graphic Designer (Freelance) – Visual Identities for Small Businesses at Self-employed / Various Start-ups
January 1, 2019 - Present
From logo design, content for socials, illustrations for web and sustainable printed matter.

Education

BA (Hons) Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design at Leeds Arts University
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2014
BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design at Leeds College of Art
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009
GCSEs (9 GCSEs including English, Maths, Business & Art) at The Kings High School
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2007
NCFE Level 3: Business for the Creative Industries at Leeds College of Art
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2014
BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009
GCSEs (9 GCSEs including English, Maths, Business & Art)
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2007
NCFE Level 3: Business for the Creative Industries
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Retail, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Manufacturing