I am an illustrator and character designer with over 15 years of experience, creating more than 100 characters for animated series and illustrating 80+ spreads for bestselling books, including a holiday title that sold 3,000 copies in weeks. I design assets for more than 150 TV episodes, and I once produced 30 production-ready characters in just 30 minutes to meet a tight deadline. I work with both digital and traditional techniques to deliver publish-ready artwork with a high first-time approval rate across animation and publishing projects. Based in Warwick, UK, I lead end-to-end production—from concept to final artwork—while collaborating with authors, publishers, and studios. I continually expand my portfolio by exploring varied formats, color palettes, and storytelling approaches, and I’m passionate about mentoring teams and delivering visually compelling narratives.…

Anastasia Cusack

I am an illustrator and character designer with over 15 years of experience, creating more than 100 characters for animated series and illustrating 80+ spreads for bestselling books, including a holiday title that sold 3,000 copies in weeks. I design assets for more than 150 TV episodes, and I once produced 30 production-ready characters in just 30 minutes to meet a tight deadline. I work with both digital and traditional techniques to deliver publish-ready artwork with a high first-time approval rate across animation and publishing projects. Based in Warwick, UK, I lead end-to-end production—from concept to final artwork—while collaborating with authors, publishers, and studios. I continually expand my portfolio by exploring varied formats, color palettes, and storytelling approaches, and I’m passionate about mentoring teams and delivering visually compelling narratives.…

Available to hire

I am an illustrator and character designer with over 15 years of experience, creating more than 100 characters for animated series and illustrating 80+ spreads for bestselling books, including a holiday title that sold 3,000 copies in weeks. I design assets for more than 150 TV episodes, and I once produced 30 production-ready characters in just 30 minutes to meet a tight deadline. I work with both digital and traditional techniques to deliver publish-ready artwork with a high first-time approval rate across animation and publishing projects.

Based in Warwick, UK, I lead end-to-end production—from concept to final artwork—while collaborating with authors, publishers, and studios. I continually expand my portfolio by exploring varied formats, color palettes, and storytelling approaches, and I’m passionate about mentoring teams and delivering visually compelling narratives.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent
Russian
Fluent
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Illustrator & Character Designer at Freelance
September 1, 2024 - Present
Autor | Illustrator & Character Designer. Freelance work across the UK and Europe; authored and illustrated a children's picture book published by Nigma Publishing House (Aug 2025); produced illustrations across diverse styles—from children's books to fantasy and noir—using both digital and traditional media; developed a proprietary workflow to deliver high-quality illustrations efficiently without compromising artistic integrity; actively expanding portfolio with varied formats, color palettes, and visual storytelling approaches.
Illustrator & Character Designer at Freelance
January 1, 2018 - Present
A creator-driven project specializing in book production and screen adaptations—covering text, artwork, publishing, and studio deals. Wrote an original New Year's book and secured a planned print run of 10K copies for fall 2025; prepared English and German translations for international distribution; developed a film adaptation pitch with concept art and a script treatment; developing original fiction for readers over 16 with text, illustrations, and design.
Book Illustrator at Meshcheryakov Publishing House
September 1, 2021 - September 10, 2025
Illustrated 19 images for a bestselling children's book about holiday characters, with 3,000 copies sold in the first two weeks and reprinted in 2021. Designed original characters that drove commercial success, resulting in 4,500 total copies printed. Created 16 illustrations for picture books (ages 1-4) adapting Russian folktales 'The Three Bears' and 'The Hare's Hut' into vibrant visual storytelling. Produced 45 full-color illustrations for a Russian folktale anthology about Baba Yaga (ages 6+), featuring detailed character designs and dynamic scenes. Developed the complete book layout from initial sketches to final artwork, ensuring cohesive visual storytelling throughout. Designed the cover from scratch, delivering a concept-approved solution that required minimal revisions and perfectly matched the publisher’s vision.
Illustrator & Character Designer at Autor
September 1, 2024 - Present
Freelance role including authoring and illustrating a children's picture book published by Nigma Publishing House (Aug 2025); produced illustrations across diverse styles including children's books, fantasy, and noir; developed a proprietary workflow for high-quality illustrations; expanding portfolio across formats and palettes.
Illustrator & Character Designer at Freelance (Germany, Munich)
January 1, 2018 - Present
Creator-driven projects focused on book production and screen adaptations; wrote an original New Year’s book, produced all production elements; pitched to Nigma Publishing for a 10K print run (Fall 2025); prepared English and German translations; developed a film adaptation pitch and initiated talks with production studios; developing original fiction for readers over 16 with textual and visual content.
Book Illustrator at Meshcheryakov Publishing House
September 1, 2021 - September 10, 2025
Illustrated 19 images for a bestselling children's book with 3,000 copies sold in the first two weeks and reprinted in 2021; designed original characters driving commercial success (4,500 copies printed); created 16 illustrations for picture books (ages 1-4) adapting Russian folktales 'The Three Bears' and 'The Hare's Hut'; produced 45 full-color illustrations for a Russian folktale anthology about Baba Yaga (ages 6+), featuring detailed character designs and dynamic scenes; developed the complete book layout from initial sketches to final artwork; designed the cover from scratch with a concept-approved solution that required minimal revisions.
Author & Illustrator & Character Designer at Freelance (UK, Warwick)
September 1, 2024 - Present
Wrote and illustrated a children's picture book published by Nigma Publishing House in August 2025. Produced illustrations across diverse styles—from children's books to fantasy and noir—using both digital and traditional techniques. Developed a proprietary workflow to create high-quality illustrations efficiently without sacrificing artistic integrity. Continuously expanding my portfolio by experimenting with varied formats, color palettes, and visual storytelling approaches.
Illustrator & Character Designer at Freelance, Germany, Munich
January 1, 2018 - Present
Created an original New Year’s book, handling all aspects of production—from writing and illustrations to layout. Successfully pitched the book to Nigma Publishing, securing a planned print run of 10K copies for fall 2025. Prepared English and German translations of the holiday fairy tale for international distribution. Developed a film adaptation pitch, including concept art and a script treatment, and initiated talks with production studios. Developing original fiction for readers over 16, creating all textual and visual content including writing, illustrations, and design.
Book Illustrator at Meshcheryakov Publishing House, Germany, Munich
September 1, 2021 - September 10, 2025
Illustrated 19 images for a bestselling children's book about holiday characters, with 3,000 copies sold in the first two weeks and reprinted in 2021. Designed original characters that drove commercial success, resulting in 4,500 total copies printed. Created 16 illustrations for picture books (ages 1-4) adapting Russian folktales 'The Three Bears' and 'The Hare's Hut' into vibrant visual storytelling. Produced 45 full-color illustrations for a Russian folktale anthology about Baba Yaga (ages 6+), featuring detailed character designs and dynamic scenes. Developed the complete book layout from initial sketches to final artwork, ensuring cohesive visual storytelling throughout. Designed the cover from scratch, delivering a concept-approved solution that required minimal revisions and perfectly matched the publisher’s vision.

Education

Diploma in 2D & 3D Animation at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts)
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2004
BA Fine Arts, Specialisation: Art-director for animation at Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK)
January 1, 1996 - January 1, 2002
Diploma, 2d & 3D Animation at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts)
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2004
BA Fine Arts, Specialisation: Art-director for animation at Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK)
January 1, 1996 - January 1, 2002
Diploma at Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts)
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2004
BA Fine Arts at Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK)
January 1, 1996 - December 31, 2002

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services

Skills

Experience Level