Illustration Process

Concepts

The project began with two composition sketches, each accompanied by a visual identity moodboard, giving the client a clear sense of both layout and potential style direction before any detailed work was committed to. The client selected concept two — a theatrical stage framed by the Market Hall's iconic arched roof — to develop further.

Sketch development

The chosen concept was refined into a more detailed sketch. To give the client a concrete feel for the intended style, the peregrine falcon (a Derby landmark reference) was drawn up in the final technique at this stage: fine inked linework with painterly colour and shading, sitting somewhere between comic book illustration and children's book art. This early style sample helped anchor feedback and sign-off before the full illustration was committed to ink.

The sketch went through a round of client revisions (adjustments to composition and elements) before receiving sign-off to proceed.

Inking and colouring

With the sketch approved, the illustration was inked and then coloured digitally. The palette went through a significant development during feedback: the client asked for richer, warmer, more dreamlike colours: a deep teal night sky, glowing gold spotlights, warm orange woodwork, moving away from a more literal daytime palette toward something more theatrical and atmospheric.

Additional figures were also drawn into the stage area: children singing, dancing and acting, bringing energy and movement to the foreground.

Final delivery

The finished artwork was delivered as a layered PSD file, allowing the client's design team to adapt elements, swap out text, and resize for different formats. The illustration was created at A1 size for full-quality poster printing, with all layers organised for flexibility across digital and print collateral.