I’m Ryan Stephenson, graphic designer, illustrator, mural-maker, and founder of Studio Onya. Based in Worcester, I’ve spent over 15 years helping businesses find their visual voice through branding, digital design, and illustration. I create clean, confident identities, expressive illustrations, and visuals that feel purposeful, memorable, and human. Before launching Studio Onya, I worked at DeMontfort Fine Art, one of the UK’s leading publishers of original paintings and limited editions, and Wizard Pi, where I refined my skills in brand identity, artworking, and digital design. I also spent time at FORM in Western Australia as Lead Graphic Designer, working on large-scale creative projects that brought strategy and storytelling together. My work is influenced by street art, character design, and a lifelong habit of blending creativity with strategy. Outside the studio, you’ll often find me discovering new coffee spots, planning the next mural, or hitting the golf course, and always looking for inspiration in unexpected places.

Ryan Stephenson

I’m Ryan Stephenson, graphic designer, illustrator, mural-maker, and founder of Studio Onya. Based in Worcester, I’ve spent over 15 years helping businesses find their visual voice through branding, digital design, and illustration. I create clean, confident identities, expressive illustrations, and visuals that feel purposeful, memorable, and human. Before launching Studio Onya, I worked at DeMontfort Fine Art, one of the UK’s leading publishers of original paintings and limited editions, and Wizard Pi, where I refined my skills in brand identity, artworking, and digital design. I also spent time at FORM in Western Australia as Lead Graphic Designer, working on large-scale creative projects that brought strategy and storytelling together. My work is influenced by street art, character design, and a lifelong habit of blending creativity with strategy. Outside the studio, you’ll often find me discovering new coffee spots, planning the next mural, or hitting the golf course, and always looking for inspiration in unexpected places.

Available to hire

I’m Ryan Stephenson, graphic designer, illustrator, mural-maker, and founder of Studio Onya.

Based in Worcester, I’ve spent over 15 years helping businesses find their visual voice through branding, digital design, and illustration. I create clean, confident identities, expressive illustrations, and visuals that feel purposeful, memorable, and human.

Before launching Studio Onya, I worked at DeMontfort Fine Art, one of the UK’s leading publishers of original paintings and limited editions, and Wizard Pi, where I refined my skills in brand identity, artworking, and digital design. I also spent time at FORM in Western Australia as Lead Graphic Designer, working on large-scale creative projects that brought strategy and storytelling together.

My work is influenced by street art, character design, and a lifelong habit of blending creativity with strategy.

Outside the studio, you’ll often find me discovering new coffee spots, planning the next mural, or hitting the golf course, and always looking for inspiration in unexpected places.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Web and Graphic Designer at Wizard Pi
January 1, 2025 - November 25, 2025
As a digital designer at Wizard Pi, I lead branding, web and print projects, creating distinctive identities and multi-channel campaigns for UK and international clients. I collaborate across teams to deliver high-quality visuals, engaging brand experiences and scalable digital assets.
Lead CRM Digital Designer at DeMontfort Fine Art
December 31, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Led digital design for CRM campaigns, websites and landing pages, delivering digital experiences for 90+ galleries and international cruise spaces. Partnered with the CRM Manager to optimise user journeys, ensure brand consistency and drive audience engagement.
Lead Graphic Designer at FORM
December 31, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Led design output for six festivals and 50+ visual art exhibitions, collaborating with artists, curators, sponsors and communities to celebrate regional creativity and First Nations art while maintaining brand resonance across print and digital channels.
Freelance Graphic Designer / Illustrator at Ghost Illustrations
January 1, 2005 - November 25, 2025
Freelance graphic design and illustration work for branding, print and digital media; developing a diverse portfolio and delivering tailored visuals for a range of clients.
Graphic Designer at Akuma Sports
December 31, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Designed sportswear and logos, including rebranding, CAD work and client pitches; contributed to interactive kit design and marketing campaigns.
Illustrator at Monorex & Secret Walls
December 31, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Illustration for events and collaborations, contributing to large-format installations and live art contexts.
Illustrator at Monorex & Secret Wars
December 31, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Created artwork and contributed to live art projects for Monorex and Secret Wars events.
Graphic Designer at Abstract Graphic Designer
December 31, 2011 - December 31, 2011
Mid-weight design role delivering branding and print materials across campaigns.
Graphic Designer at Akuma Rugby
December 31, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Sportswear design, rebranding, CAD work, and client pitches; contributed to interactive kit concepts and apparel for major brands.
Founder and Creative Director at Studio Onya
October 24, 2025 - Present
Studio Onya is a Worcester-based branding and digital design studio creating work with character, craft and purpose. We help businesses and creatives build brands that feel authentic, websites that actually work, and illustrations that bring ideas to life (including murals, happily - whenever someone hands us a wall).

Education

Professional Diploma in UX Design at UX Design Institute
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
BA (Hons) Visual Communications in Illustrations at Birmingham City University
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010
HND Visual Communications at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2008
ND Graphic Design at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2006
BTEC Art and Design at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2004

Qualifications

Professional Diploma in UX Design
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
BA (Hons) Visual Communications in Illustrations
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010
HND Visual Communications
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2008
ND Graphic Design
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2006
BTEC Art and Design
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2004

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Retail
    paper Dadel Brand & Identity

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    Dadel is a dad-led sports community built on connection, honesty, and the joy and chaos of fatherhood. One of the main challenges was capturing the balance between competitive sport and the more vulnerable moments that dads share, without tipping too far into sentimentality or stereotypes. By developing a tone of voice that feels like a mate on the sidelines—supportive, witty, and real—I shaped a brand identity that solves this tension and gives Dadel a space to be both energetic and open. The outcome is a genuine and flexible foundation that reflects the everyday highs and lows of dad life.

    paper Catalpa Landscapes Website

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    Catalpa Landscapes needed a website that reflected the care, craftsmanship, and creativity behind their bespoke garden designs. Their previous online presence felt disconnected from the quality of their work, making it hard for potential clients to see what made them unique. By designing a calm and modern interface with natural tones, strong visuals, and smooth navigation, I solved this gap and created a digital experience that feels as refined and reliable as their outdoor spaces. The result is a welcoming and polished site that showcases their services and strengthens their ability to attract new clients.

    paper Love Sick — Andrew Nicholls

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    LOVE SICK is a 300-page monograph capturing Andrew Nicholls’ artistic output from 2009 to 2019. The challenge was organising a decade of varied works and critical writing into a structure that felt clear, engaging, and worthy of the scale of his practice. By creating a refined visual system that balanced artworks, essays, and archival material, the design solves the tension between academic depth and readability. The result is a considered and elegant companion to his previous monograph, highlighting the evolution of his career with clarity and care.

    paper Nook

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    Nook is a UX-led product concept developed to strengthen my user-centred design approach. The challenge was moving beyond aesthetics and focusing on genuine user problems, which I solved by applying a complete UX process from research through to prototyping. The result is a concept defined by clarity, purpose, and a strong connection between brand and experience.