I am a creative, innovative artist and designer with a passion for storytelling, world-building, and fiction inspired by my experiences growing up in Mexico and Canada. I excel at developing character, creature and environment designs from written briefs, translating scripts into sequential art and full-page layouts, and I am a proficient digital painter. I thrive in collaborative settings, work well under pressure, and am always ready to step up to face a challenge.

Natalia Soto Leites

I am a creative, innovative artist and designer with a passion for storytelling, world-building, and fiction inspired by my experiences growing up in Mexico and Canada. I excel at developing character, creature and environment designs from written briefs, translating scripts into sequential art and full-page layouts, and I am a proficient digital painter. I thrive in collaborative settings, work well under pressure, and am always ready to step up to face a challenge.

Available to hire

I am a creative, innovative artist and designer with a passion for storytelling, world-building, and fiction inspired by my experiences growing up in Mexico and Canada.

I excel at developing character, creature and environment designs from written briefs, translating scripts into sequential art and full-page layouts, and I am a proficient digital painter. I thrive in collaborative settings, work well under pressure, and am always ready to step up to face a challenge.

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Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
French
Beginner

Work Experience

Class Representative at Vancouver Film School
August 1, 2025 - September 12, 2025
Voiced fellow classmates' concerns and issues to teachers and administration both outside of meetings and in meetings, kept track of deadlines and assignments, organized class bonding events.
Designer & Customer Service Attendant at Business Now Services Inc.
July 1, 2024 - September 12, 2025
Layout, color and pre-printing design for a variety of products and services; handle sales, walk-in customers, online and phone orders and resolve technical issues that arose with the printers.
Digital Matte Painting/Set Extension at Isaac Barter
April 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Painting over pre-existing video stills to correct or add background elements and provide hand-painted set extensions.
Key Frame Animator at Zoopsquid
January 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Provided hand-drawn rough poses and framing for animation.
Illustrator at RC Pets
February 1, 2021 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position illustrating icons in collaboration with a graphic designer and senior designer for an informational pamphlet; communicated remotely with teammates to achieve desired product.
Layout Artist at Dan Starling
May 1, 2020 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position, contributed full page spreads for a collaborative graphic novel, utilizing full creative freedom for paneling, background design and visual storytelling; maintained communication remotely with fellow artists to ensure cohesiveness throughout project.
Class Representative at Vancouver Film School
August 1, 2025 - September 12, 2025
Voiced fellow classmates' concerns and issues to teachers and administration both outside of meetings and in meetings; kept track of deadlines and assignments; organized class bonding events.
Designer & Customer Service Attendant at Business Now Services Inc.
July 1, 2024 - September 12, 2025
Layout, color and pre-printing design for a variety of products and services; Handle sales, walk-in customers, online and phone orders and resolve technical issues with printers.
Digital Matte Painting/Set Extension at Isaac Barter
April 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Painting over pre-existing video stills to correct or add background elements and provide hand-painted set extensions.
Key Frame Animator at Zoopsquid
January 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Provided hand-drawn rough poses and framing for animation.
Illustrator at RC Pets
February 1, 2021 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position illustrating icons in collaboration with a graphic designer and senior designer for an informational pamphlet; Communicated remotely with teammates to achieve desired product.
Layout Artist at Dan Starling
May 1, 2020 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position, contributed full page spreads for a collaborative graphic novel, utilizing full creative freedom for paneling, background design and visual storytelling; Maintained communication remotely with fellow artists to ensure cohesiveness throughout project.
Designer at Business Now Services Inc.
July 1, 2024 - September 12, 2025
Layout, color design and pre-print design for a variety of products.
Digital Matte Painter / Set Extension at Isaac Barter
April 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Paint over pre-existing video stills to correct lighting and background elements; provide hand-painted set extensions working off of video stills.
Key Frame Animator at ZoopSquid
January 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Provided hand-drawn rough poses and framing for animation.
Illustrator at RC Pets
February 1, 2021 - Present
Illustrated icons created in collaboration with a senior designer for an informational pamphlet.
Layout Artist at Dan Starling
May 1, 2020 - Present
Contributed full page spreads for a collaborative graphic novel, utilizing full creative freedom for paneling, background design and visual storytelling.
Class Representative at Vancouver Film School
August 1, 2025 - September 12, 2025
Voiced fellow classmates' concerns and issues to teachers and administration both outside of meetings and in meetings; kept track of deadlines and assignments; organized class bonding events.
Designer & Customer Service Attendant at Business Now Services Inc.
July 1, 2024 - September 12, 2025
Layout, color and pre-printing design for a variety of products and services. Handle sales, walk-in customers, online and phone orders and resolve technical issues with printers.
Digital Matte Painting/Set Extension at Isaac Barter
April 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Painting over pre-existing video stills to correct or add background elements and provide hand-painted set extensions.
Key Frame Animator at Zoopsquid
January 1, 2022 - September 12, 2025
Provided hand-drawn rough poses and framing for animation.
Illustrator at RC Pets
February 1, 2021 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position illustrating icons in collaboration with a graphic designer and senior designer for an informational pamphlet; communicated remotely with teammates to achieve desired product.
Layout Artist at Dan Starling
May 1, 2020 - September 12, 2025
Freelance position, contributed full page spreads for a collaborative graphic novel, utilizing full creative freedom for paneling, background design and visual storytelling; maintained communication remotely with fellow artists to ensure cohesiveness throughout project.
Designer & Customer Service Attendant at Business Now Services Inc.
July 1, 2024 - October 20, 2025
Lead graphic and layout designer, handling new and returning clients’ projects and needs, resulting in increased client inquiries for both professional and personal design jobs. Provided creative expertise for products such as business cards, logos for print and screen use, flyers, branding materials, etc. Managed sales, walk-in customers, online and phone orders, and resolved technical issues with machinery while coordinating time and resources to finish design projects on time.
Digital Matte Painting/Set Extension at Isaac Barter
April 1, 2022 - October 20, 2025
Remote contract work supplying editing services for a music video. Did paint-overs on pre-recorded live-action footage to correct and add background elements using digital painting software, embracing both traditional and digital painting techniques to achieve a photorealistic finish, saving the film team time by avoiding reshoots and enabling easy corrections. Maintained steady communication with the contractor to receive feedback and adhere to the project timeline.
Illustrator at RC Pets
February 1, 2021 - October 20, 2025
Provided illustrations and icons created digitally for an informational pamphlet in collaboration with the senior designer and a layout designer, informing pet owners in a clear, concise way how to intervene in emergencies. Communicated remotely with teammates to achieve the desired product while adhering to the company’s design bible and creative vision.
Layout Artist at Dan Starling
May 1, 2020 - October 20, 2025
Remote contract work on a collaborative graphic novel. Contributed full-page spreads developed directly from the author’s script, utilizing creative freedom for paneling, background design and visual storytelling, helping bring the author’s vision to life. Maintained communication with fellow artists to ensure cohesiveness of character designs throughout the project.

Education

at Vancouver Film School
May 1, 2025 - August 1, 2025
Animation Concept Art at Vancouver Film School
August 1, 2024 - August 1, 2025
Bachelor's of Fine Arts - Illustration at Emily Carr University of Art + Design
September 1, 2017 - May 1, 2021
at Vancouver Film School
May 1, 2025 - August 1, 2025
Associate’s degree – Animation Concept Art at Vancouver Film School
August 1, 2024 - August 1, 2025
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Illustration at Emily Carr University of Art and Design
September 1, 2017 - May 1, 2024

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet