Martha Ford
Hello! I’m Martha, a freelance illustrator based in Bristol, UK.
My main focus is illustrating for publishing and editorial, and I love the challenge of visualising a complex concept or capturing the mood of a story in a single image. I enjoy illustrating for packaging and branding, and licensing artwork for products.
My passion for storytelling and drawing led me to study animation at university before moving to Bristol to work as an animator and illustrator, where I spent my time participating in independent shops, markets, and exhibitions. After going into teaching for eight years and earning a Master’s degree, I took the plunge to focus on my illustration career in the Summer of ‘23.
My interests include folklore and mythology, gaming, exploring themes of mental health and emotions, diverse identities and bodies, mysticism and the occult, the wonders of the natural world, and everyday magic. I am always learning new things and finding new perspectives.
Outside of client work, I work part-time in a boardgame cafe, love designing small collections of fantasy themed stationary and gifts, and visiting niche conventions. I also spend any free time wandering around my city, trying to keep my plants alive, tabletop and video gaming, playing with my cat Peggy, sampling craft beers, watching (‘bad’) sci fi and horror films, collecting D20 dice and other extremely nerdy paraphernalia, and admiring limited edition books I definitely cannot afford.
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Martha FordOuroborus View Folio
Martha Fordskull1 View Folio
Martha FordMARTHA FORD rgb View Folio
Martha FordSummertime can full artwork (1) View Folio
Martha FordWip_Woodland (2) View Folio
Martha FordMartha Ford Feature View Folio
Martha FordChimera View Folio
Martha FordOrb View Folio
Martha FordSkull blackbird View Folio
Martha Fordbillboard final View Folio
Martha FordBog spirits View Folio
Martha FordWings View Folio
Martha FordSisters View Folio
Martha Fordglowing View Folio
Martha FordPastel Fungi View Folio
Martha FordSpring View Folio
Martha FordBreathe cover View Folio
Martha FordGoblet 2 View Folio
Martha FordTransmission.This illustration was created as part of a group (3 illustrators) exhibition called ‘Mountains’, in Cardiff. It is inspired by remote radio stations and old science fiction literature. The piece was hand drawn using black fine liners, and a scanned texture was added to the sky in Photoshop. View Folio
Martha FordDiplodocus pair in a TerrariumA playful illustration of two tiny Diplodocuses in a terrarium habitat. The silhouettes were kept simple but interest was added through texture, simple pattern on the botanical and dinosaur forms, and a vibrant colour scheme. Gouache brushes were used in Procreate to create a more painterly style.
This illustration was one of a four-part series created to print onto products (a set of square coasters, vinyl stickers and paper goods).
View Folio