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View my portfolio here: _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Hello! I'm Vanessa. I grew up in Singapore, studied animation in Vancouver and am now based in Glasgow, Scotland. I have always been passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life through illustration and 2D animation. I pride myself in being a versatile artist, able to contribute to storyboards, backgrounds, and multiple stages of the 2D animation pipeline, while still maintaining a desire to challenge and expand my perspective and skills in art. I have worked on children's music videos, a graphic novel, and various types of books. I am always excited to see what comes my way and how I can contribute to a pitch to bring a story to life through my unique vision. I am proficient with both traditional (gouache, watercolour) and digital mediums (Toon Boom Harmony, TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Moho, Photoshop, etc). I look forward to hearing from you!…View my portfolio here: _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Hello! I'm Vanessa. I grew up in Singapore, studied animation in Vancouver and am now based in Glasgow, Scotland. I have always been passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life through illustration and 2D animation. I pride myself in being a versatile artist, able to contribute to storyboards, backgrounds, and multiple stages of the 2D animation pipeline, while still maintaining a desire to challenge and expand my perspective and skills in art. I have worked on children's music videos, a graphic novel, and various types of books. I am always excited to see what comes my way and how I can contribute to a pitch to bring a story to life through my unique vision. I am proficient with both traditional (gouache, watercolour) and digital mediums (Toon Boom Harmony, TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Moho, Photoshop, etc). I look forward to hearing from you!

Vanessa Thian

Illustrator, 2D Animator, Animator, +4

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View my portfolio here: _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Hello! I'm Vanessa. I grew up in Singapore, studied animation in Vancouver and am now based in Glasgow, Scotland. I have always been passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life through illustration and 2D animation. I pride myself in being a versatile artist, able to contribute to storyboards, backgrounds, and multiple stages of the 2D animation pipeline, while still maintaining a desire to challenge and expand my perspective and skills in art. I have worked on children's music videos, a graphic novel, and various types of books. I am always excited to see what comes my way and how I can contribute to a pitch to bring a story to life through my unique vision. I am proficient with both traditional (gouache, watercolour) and digital mediums (Toon Boom Harmony, TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Moho, Photoshop, etc). I look forward to hearing from you!…View my portfolio here: _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Hello! I'm Vanessa. I grew up in Singapore, studied animation in Vancouver and am now based in Glasgow, Scotland. I have always been passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life through illustration and 2D animation. I pride myself in being a versatile artist, able to contribute to storyboards, backgrounds, and multiple stages of the 2D animation pipeline, while still maintaining a desire to challenge and expand my perspective and skills in art. I have worked on children's music videos, a graphic novel, and various types of books. I am always excited to see what comes my way and how I can contribute to a pitch to bring a story to life through my unique vision. I am proficient with both traditional (gouache, watercolour) and digital mediums (Toon Boom Harmony, TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Moho, Photoshop, etc). I look forward to hearing from you!

Available to hire

Glasgow, United Kingdom

View my portfolio here: Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup

Hello! I’m Vanessa. I grew up in Singapore, studied animation in Vancouver and am now based in Glasgow, Scotland. I have always been passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life through illustration and 2D animation. I pride myself in being a versatile artist, able to contribute to storyboards, backgrounds, and multiple stages of the 2D animation pipeline, while still maintaining a desire to challenge and expand my perspective and skills in art.

I have worked on children’s music videos, a graphic novel, and various types of books. I am always excited to see what comes my way and how I can contribute to a pitch to bring a story to life through my unique vision. I am proficient with both traditional (gouache, watercolour) and digital mediums (Toon Boom Harmony, TV Paint, Clip Studio Paint, Moho, Photoshop, etc). I look forward to hearing from you!

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

2D Animator for Songs Children Sing Music Videos at Strawberry Mountain Studio

October 1, 2024 - Present

Created a series of 2D animated videos as part of a two-person team, involved in every part of production from brainstorming, concept art, storyboard art, background paintings, rough and final animations, to compositing and editing.

Graphic Novel Illustrator at National University of Singapore

February 1, 2024 - Present

Co-created and illustrated a graphic novel in collaboration with an anthropology professor and a theatre group.

Director, Producer, Animator at Vancouver Film School

December 31, 2023 - July 28, 2025

Worked under studio conditions to create a 2-minute short film from concept to finish, handling concept art, storyboards, layouts, animation, compositing and background art under tight schedules. Actively engaged with instructors’ feedback and submitted all assignments on time.

Freelance Animator at Doodlevan

December 31, 2022 - July 28, 2025

Collaborated with a Singaporean music artist to independently create a 3-minute animated music video, including project timeline creation, mood boards, storyboard and sketches, and proactive client communication for drafts and revisions.

Freelance Illustrator & Animator at Doodlevan

December 31, 2022 - July 28, 2025

Created 2D assets, backgrounds, and character designs for indie video games and trailers, animated music visuals and musicals, designed and illustrated event materials, working closely with commissioners to realize their creative ideas.

Writers’ Centre Student Associate: Poster Design & Event Management at Yale-NUS

December 31, 2021 - July 28, 2025

Designed posters to publicise Writers’ Centre events to the school community as the main designer.

Art Education Intern at Little Artists Art Studio

August 31, 2020 - July 28, 2025

Taught arts & crafts to children aged 2 to 8, prepared lesson plans and artwork samples, and devised an inventory system to organize studio stocks.

Freelance Calligraphy Artist at Eterate Co.

December 31, 2018 - July 28, 2025

Performed live calligraphy at events for clients like Google and Bvlgari LVHM, creating customized designs interactively.

Marketing and Operations Intern at Seastainable Co.

July 31, 2018 - July 28, 2025

Managed and created content for Instagram, increasing engagement by 60% within a month.

Graphic Design and Operations Intern at Jump Eat Cry

June 30, 2018 - July 28, 2025

Conceptualized, created and oversaw digital designs for social media, website banners, EDMs, advertisements, and posters as head designer.

2D Animator at Robot Playground Media

August 1, 2025 - October 1, 2025

Created rough key animations of characters playing the violin in a more realistic anime style, following model sheets and ensuring the animations were technically sound and emotionally expressive.

2D Animator at Strawberry Mountain Studio

October 1, 2024 - Present

Creating a series of 2D animated videos for 'Songs Children Sing', collaborating in all production stages—from brainstorming with the client to concept art, storyboard art, background paintings, rough animations, final animations, to compositing and editing.

Freelance Book Illustrator at Remote

October 1, 2025 - February 1, 2026

Created a cover page and 32 pages of illustrations (including 8 spreads and 31 spot illustrations) for Freedom Snail by Jenny Hersch and Charissa Rooney, with realistic architectural drawings in a slightly whimsical watercolour style; co-created and illustrated the cover, spine and back art for A Song For Wolves; created 1 cover and 9 spot illustrations for Enoch Walked With Frogs.

Director, Painter, Animator at Looking For Em (Student Film)

January 1, 2023 - December 1, 2023

Worked under studio conditions to create a 2-minute short film, Looking for Em, from conceptualisation to finish. Animated over 10 weeks; painted and composited over 4 weeks. Created concept art, storyboards, layouts, animation, compositing and background art; responded to feedback and kept to schedule.

Freelance Illustrator & Animator at Doodlevan, Singapore

January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022

Created 2D assets, backgrounds and character designs for indie video game 'it’ll be alright'; animated a trailer for Steven Sy’s fantasy novel 'Vacant Steppes'; animated two looping gifs as visuals for yams’ music album 'day/dreams'.

Writers’ Centre Student Associate: Poster Design & Event Management at Yale-NUS College, Singapore

January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2021

Created posters to publicise Writers’ Centre events; set up and facilitated events like poetry recitals, workshops, author readings, etc.

Art Education Intern at Little Artists Art Studio, Singapore

June 1, 2020 - August 1, 2020

Taught children from ages 2 to 8 arts & crafts, prepared lesson plans and artwork samples; devised an inventory system on Excel to organise studio stocks.

Freelance Calligraphy Artist at Eterate Co., Singapore

January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016

Performed live calligraphy at 4 events for Google and Bvlgari LVHM, creating customised designs on the spot while interacting with a constant flow of clients.

Freelance Calligraphy Artist at Eterate Co., Singapore

January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018

Continued freelance calligraphy work for various clients and events.

Marketing and Operations Intern at Seastainable Co., Singapore

July 1, 2018 - July 1, 2018

Oversaw and created content for Instagram; increased engagement by 60% within a month.

Graphic Design and Operations Intern at Jump Eat Cry, Singapore

April 1, 2018 - June 1, 2018

Conceptualised, created and oversaw digital designs for Instagram posts, website banners, EDMs, advertisements and posters as head designer.