Zara Wood

In How to become a Successful Illustrator, author Jo Davies describes Zara as ‘an enterprising and dynamic artist whose work defies definition whilst having huge illustrative impact’.

Originally from a fine art interdisciplinary background, she moved in to visual communication in the early noughties and has been fascinated with the scope of illustration ever since.

Fast forward 20 years and she has forged a progressive creative practice, where characters and collaboration are at the heart of a variety of international projects. These range from public art commissions for hospitals through to sustainable collections at the intersection of illustration, design and fine art.

“The potential of illustration to bring about positive change, both regionally and globally, is real, even when our drawings are other-worldly. Through the characters we draw, the narratives we visually-tell and the out-puts we create, illustrators can be agents of change.”

Zara brings energy and insight to her teaching. Her approach is to utilise specialist knowledge and career experience to equip future illustrators with the skillset required to be visual translators. Her teaching highlights the value of robust research and critical evaluation beyond academia in to the world of work.

Zara won a staff excellence award for driving diversification at Falmouth University, before joining Ravensbourne University. Now, as the head of year 3 on the Illustration for Communication BA, she continues to actively create opportunities within teaching modules and industry partnerships to promote inclusivity, sustainability and nurture new talent.

“As educators, it is our responsibility to support, encourage and showcase all voices, by the creation of a safe and inspiring studio environment.”

Rave About Illustration podcast

In 2023, Zara launched her podcast, Rave About Illustration. The podcast series sheds light on what illustrators do. Visual language is utilised to translate stories from other sectors, which often means that illustration as a field falls under the radar.

The podcast is for prospective illustrators, as well as the public as a whole, to gain insight in to the world of illustration. Topical discussions with leading established illustrators and newly graduated alumni, also bring more tailored talk on breaking boundaries, working as a freelancer and enterprise within the current economic climate.

Within her current research, Zara explores the dominance of using one lead hand for writing and drawing. This enquiry includes both the biological and socio-cultural roots of right-handed preference in certain areas of the world and goes on to evaluate how tasks involving both brain hemispheres, and therefore both hands, could have fundamental impacts on decision-making and even dementia. Practice-led elements of this research incorporate observational drawing and contemporary dance.

Zara is also an invited member of the International Association of Illustration Academics.