Veronika Kiriyenko

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Cartoon frog caught by a long pink tongue among lily pads

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Conceptual tarot card-themed toilet tissue for kids' bathroom

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Collection of millennial icons as stickers by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful millennial world scene filled with digital and pop culture elements by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Woman examining pink flowers in tire planter, illustration by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Ideen stehen im Mittelpunkt von Veronikas Ansatz

Aufregende Farben, extreme Proportionen, Humor, Gefühl und ein Hauch von Verrücktheit sind die Zutaten, die Veronikas Illustrationen so ansprechend machen.

Based in Kazakhstan, Veronika is a multi-talented artist. She’s an accomplished pianist and an experienced graphic designer, but it’s illustration that sets her heart free. She sketches daily, taking random words and exploring new ways of expressing her ideas. Clients are confident in Veronika’s creativity, always enjoy her idea-based approach and appreciate her punctuality. With a BA in Design for Graphic Communication from the London College of Communication, Veronika has agency experience and is quick to grasp what her clients are looking for. She’s inspired by the Symbolist movement; artists like Frida Kahlo, Edvard Munch and Gustav Klimt; and also loves illustrators like Cristina Daura and Alex Gamsu Jenkins.

Approach

Ideas are central to Veronika’s approach. She sketches quickly and crisply in Procreate, clearly showing clients how her imagery will communicate their messaging with strong line work and bright colours.

Style

Beauty and perfection are not on the agenda in Veronika’s work. Exciting colours, extreme proportions, humour, feeling and a touch of weirdness are the ingredients that make her illustrations so appealing.

Languages

Russian, English and written Spanish.

Impressions

Interview

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Interview

What led you to become an illustrator? ’Talking’ with pictures was always my thing. During my university years (studying Graphic Design), I always tried to do something image focused. Somehow even my Final Major Project was an illustrated picture book dedicated to the symbolism of death. Working in advertising was draining, a few years of freelancing after that were exciting, since my partner was more into typography and organising things. So I was responsible for idea generation, creating visuals, icons and some simple illustrations. One day I realised that the only part of the work that excited me and I didn't have to force, was illustration. I spent a year improving my drawing skills (figure sketching every day, drawing a day, going to sleep with a Gottfried Bammes’ book). In 2019 I received my first commission and since then I’m working as a freelance illustrator. Did you study illustration in college? I graduated from London College of Communication (UAL) in 2013 with a BA in Design for Graphic Communication. We spent most of our time learning how to think creatively, how to experiment with different materials/media and etc. We had some classes on illustration where we practiced pattern creating skills, dug for metaphors for book cover visuals. Other than that I had an opportunity to implement illustration to some of my projects but I really do hope no one will ever see those projects of mine!Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Wonderful multicultural city surrounded by mountains in Central Asia. I moved to London when I was 16 to attend a Foundation Course at City University in Business Studies. Long story short, I left London almost six years later with a BA in Graphic Design.Do you have a childhood memory relating to drawing/art that you hold dear? I was that child who always loved to draw. As a child, I loved to use oil crayons, I tried painting with oils and acrylics, and sculpted from Plasticine. I’m not sure I have that childhood memory that I hold dear, but I’m sure I was lucky not to meet one of those people who scared your inner artist away when you’re a kid. I know so many people who’ve experienced this kind of trauma, it’s heartbreaking. Where do you live now and what drew you there? After an unsuccessful job search in Great Britain (as a Kazakhstan citizen I had to receive a special visa and it had to be sponsored by the company I'm working for. Which is almost an impossible condition for a Junior Designer), I found a job at the Leo Burnett in Moscow and moved there. A few years later I became a freelancer along with my partner in life, and 4 years after that I started my career as an illustrator. I moved my business back to Kazakhstan last year.Describe your studio for us Oh, nothing fancy! My working space is my desktop located in the living room. All the closets in the living room are stuffed with sketchbooks, which I promise myself (every Monday), to scan and free up some space. I always have an iPad on my desktop (my main working tool), laptop, three up-to-date sketchbooks (for commissions / personal sketches/ creative exercises), an ashtray, chargers for all devices and a pencil case with a million black liners and a dozen pencils. Also, I have an inspiration wall in front of me, with works of artists I admire or just some interesting/cute images I’ve collected while travelling. My workspace is always messy, which is a good thing. It means I don’t have an ongoing project if it’s tidy and neatly organised. Do you have a studio pet?I have my dog Luke (7 years old Maltese) and two cats – Pudding (old Scottish fold) and Jazz (a moggie that we rescued from the street). Who or What is your biggest inspiration? People, their ways of communication, ugly-beauty around me, vanitas, vintage documentaries/propaganda movies, cheap vintage toys. If you could collaborate with another artist or creative of any genre, living or dead, who would it be?I would definitely like to at least sit next to Lucien Freud while he paints and annoy him with questions. I would like to try on David Hockney’s sense of colour. I would love to play exquisite corpse with Alex Gamsu Jenkins.What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?I tend to have a long walk in a forest or in a park with my family almost every weekend. Long run on Sunday is a must as well:) Additional fun is to go bowling or play billiards, pub quiz to tickle my mind or to have a calm movie night paired with good wine and food. What's your most prized possession and why?I think it’s my vintage monkey with cymbals. I bought it with my first official salary. You probably remember the scene from The Simpsons, where such a monkey showed a void in Homer's head. When I feel like I can't think of anything creative and start to panic, I look at it and remember that I need to exhale. Good ideas can't come up in just 10 minutes!What causes are you passionate about?Pollution of the earth/water/air/space/Mars (on which man has not even landed yet). Animal Cruelty and poaching. Injustice towards all minorities. What was your favourite assignment ever?It was clearly the development of illustrations for the Guardian trailer at Glastonbury. This project was huge, challenging, fun and what’s important – developed my skills. I still can’t believe that I was lucky enough to be the illustrator on this project. But I am very pleased with the result.How do you separate your work life from your home life?I guess I don’t. As a freelancer you always work. Or you wait for work to come which means you do your personal projects to keep your social medias alive. I try to have some sort of a daily timetable where I have time to walk my dog, to do sports, to have lunch and dinner on time. Also, I try not to spend more than 4 hours in total during the weekend. Of course, if I have an urgent project I skip everything, but having a timetable and alarms on my phone helps. Who is your art hero? If I have to name only one, then I will say Lucien Freud. I just can’t get enough of his perception of human, emotions, symbolism. Also, when you look at his botanical paintings, you realise that he SAW plants, life in them, their fading. He makes me very emotional.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? A billionaire! I always wanted to be a doctor or work in cancer research. That dream dissolved in my inner fear of not being smart enough for it. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? “Will you worry about it in a year?” and “Never listen to the advice of people you don't want to be like.” Oh and one more: “To win the lottery, you need to at least buy a ticket”. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Antarctica, Greenland, South Africa, Tahiti. Have you any hidden talents? I am frighteningly good at recognising faces (shame I don’t have that advantage in name remembering). I can open a beer bottle with my teeth. It was a great ice breaker when I was a student! After paying my last dentist bill I decided not to practice it anymore. What is your go-to comfort food?Pasta with grated parmesan and tuna salad. THE BEST!What movie can you watch over and over?Amelie.What is the last show you binged?Succession Finale (awesome).What was the last exhibition you saw and loved? I go to exhibitions quite often, but All Too Human at Tate Britain (2018) impressed me so much that I still think about it and want to rewind the time to see it again. What is your favourite book?Tough one. I read all the time. My first thought was ‘Little Prince’ because I think this book made me a better person. Every time I read it I find something new for myself. And cry. Lot’s of crying. What is your go-to karaoke song?Oasis “Don’t Look Back in Anger".Do you have any tips/advice for other illustrators?Draw more. You don’t have to show everything, just try to draw daily. Self initiated projects are great for attracting new clients. The more you have, the more you can provide for future projects. Try not to overdose yourself with ‘inspiration’.What career advice would you give your younger self?Knock on all doors and don't be shy about it. Stop waiting for the "perfect" moment to make a statement and let people see what you're doing. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Stop thinking for others and listen to as many other people's opinions as possible about what you are doing. This will be a great way to understand that everyone thinks differently and you cannot please everyone. Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?You have to come to terms with the fact that some projects suck, but you're already too caught up in it to escape. Sometimes it’s smarter just to let it go, finish the commission, move forward and never think of it again. What do you listen to when you work? My music taste is very random and that's why I'm always on the lookout for new tracks that I like. The algorithms of various services do not like me very much, so the search for new music is always a struggle. While generating ideas, I always work in silence. As soon as I start turning pencil doodles into more thoughtful sketches in Procreate, I turn on the music. If all the recommendations from Spotify annoy me, then I turn on Nina Simone Radio – this is a win-win. I'm very shy about sharing my music with people, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone, so here's the link for you...

Favourites

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Abstract dual-faced digital artwork by Veronika Kiriyenko, featuring vibrant surreal design

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Colorful Christmas-themed stickers on blue background

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Colorful pattern of cute cartoon objects with hearts, cats, planets, and skateboards by Veronika Kir

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Man in green tracksuit taking photo of dachshund in patterned rain boots by daffodils by Veronika Ki

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Colorful birthday card with stacked cakes and candle illustration

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Colorful Berlin photo booth with curtain, rat, bicycle wheel, and dachshund

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Girl in pink jacket taking a selfie with cherry blossoms, artwork by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Cartoon character with a beachy disposition

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Surreal illustration of The Guardian and The Observer trailer flags by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustrations of London activities: park, food market, flowers, and rainy pub

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Illustration of hands and mouths with cords on Glastonbury Festival guide by Veronika Kiriyenko

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View through binoculars showing dark owl in tree at night

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Rearview mirror reflection showing a cat and a driver with a smiley air freshener

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Four colorful scenes showing quirky Berlin life moments and characters

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Person touching a cat-tongue mushroom in a forest setting

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Two hands hold gummy bears and pretend they are kissing. Flying bears in the background are in naugh

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Illustration of a hand with crossed fingers on colorful card

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Surreal trash can with eye, cards, hand, and objects on black and white background

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Can with vibrant crowd scene design by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Exaggerated figure of a young female on a skateboard

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Digital illustration of anchovy-tomato sandwich recipe

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Abstract paper wallet design with security and technology motifs by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Step-by-step guide to making oak porridge by Veronika Kiriyenko

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The Most Embarrassing Comic in the New York Times for Kids

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Editorial cartoon focusing on the qualities of successful business owners

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Valentine's Day card with a comic kids theme

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Digital collage of memories with mountains, music, and cultural icons by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustration of child between two large adult faces by Veronika Kiriyenko

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The picture is divided into four parts, each of which tells one of the four stories of unfortunate f

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Imaginative depiction of novelty for Tommy

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poster about running. earphones, trainers and water.

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Cartoon by Veronika Kiriyenko for the rebranding of the Breeze Youth Platform

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Vibrant cartoon park scene with playful characters and lush green trees by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful music-themed user statistics icons on purple background

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Illustration of cartoon man holding golden stack with sparkles by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustration of number 13 surrounded by baby items by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Skeleton hand emerging from closet holds a suspicious photo, by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Hands catching clouds with nets over Canary Islands by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful chess piece patches on a pink background

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Veronika Kiriyenko

Selected illustrations

Modern American Gothic with colorful glasses and abstract elements

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Surreal colorful panel design with faces and objects by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful playful TikTok-themed illustration by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful movie genre icons including food, trojan horse, ghost, and more

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Stylized character relaxing on bench surrounded by trash and a butterfly

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Character relaxing on grass holding a flower in spring

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Vibrant multi-icon sticker set by Veronika Kiriyenko with phones and music

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Illustration of a woman shouting into a large megaphone, vibrant colors by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Vibrant illustration for The Guardian by Veronika Kiriyenko, featuring surreal colorful figures

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Hello World magazine cover showing integrated computer science theme

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Festival trailer with staff in yellow shirts outside, photo by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful cartoon tree stump with eyes, bird, and green leaves

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Cartoon hermit crab and clams underwater with plants

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Person lying and examining morel mushrooms with bees and squirrels nearby

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Forest animals in green foliage forming Save text by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Editorial illustration featuring cultural facts for AIDA Magazine by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Comic strip showing hand with remote, TV screen with NEWS, and three colorful monsters

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Kiss Branding's figurative images of empowered adolescents

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Nap in the City is the subject of this comic strip

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Wine glasses and food items balancing on a seesaw by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Step-by-step guide to using plantago leaves for blisters by Veronika Kiriyenko

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How to make nettle threads step-by-step instructions by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Character illustration of Alligator for Checkmate Academy

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claw machine with different toys inside. The viewer pulls the unicorn

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Naked Santa with a reindeer slipper lifts his robe to reveal goodies

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Three screen interface. On each of the screens, a different way of schooling takes place (classic, i

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Cartoon illustrations symbolizing inflation and rising food prices

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Conceptual comic illustration portraying 'We're All Connected

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A black-and-white abstract mat beneath the bag

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illustration, tennis, rackets, ball, tennis players

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Cartoon ladybug with hat among fly agaric mushrooms and plants

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Colorful abstract illustration about the Metaverse by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustration for Resume.io: "Mastering Promotion Interviews"

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Black boot stepping on Earth with water splash by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustration of crowd throwing tomatoes at La Tomatina festival by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Happy farm life cpmic stickers featuring Dorper sheep

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Illustrated portraits of diverse people discussing diversity and change

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Illustration of overlapping wedding rings labeled Mine, Ours, Yours

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Construction site with digger and Biggest Builders 2024 sign

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Editorial illustrations showing colorful shapes and diagrams in Rotary Magazine

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Illustration of the Guardian Bag design featuring entwined figures, by Veronika Kiriyenko

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The Guardian Bag design at Glastonbury 2023

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Colorful trailer design with crowd and monster mouth by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful movie genre icons on purple background

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Colorful birthday card with cake, rubber ducks, and toes illustration

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Ironic Christmas tree with large red hand and candy canes by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful Guardian trailer at Glastonbury Festival 2023 by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Person receiving drops from bottle by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Some fan art of the succession as a change of pace

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Surreal colorful panel illustrations by Veronika Kiriyenko for The Guardian at Glastonbury

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Person in hat riding a large blue spider with stars around

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Confused fish surrounded by whimsical floating snacks underwater

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Colorful illustration of office workers recharging with wellness activities by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Person taking selfie inside hollow tree surrounded by mushrooms and butterfly

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Illustration of hand holding a Cheers card with drinks and confetti

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Illustration of a Cincinnati Metro bus celebrating its 50th anniversary with balloons and cake

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Colorful cartoon collage of fun objects and expressions in TikTok style

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Empowered teen illustrations for Breeze Youth Platform rebrand

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Step-by-step illustration of crispy chicken wings recipe by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Step-by-step paper making instructions with images by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Illustration explaining medicinal uses of hackberry plant parts by Veronika Kiriyenko

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love postcard, two eyes looking at each other, hears, thunder bolts

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??? ??????? ? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? (?????????? ?????? ???? ??????? ? ?????, bubble, ????????

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Person interacting with colorful Berlin vending machine labeled WUNSTKUNST

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Three hands holding the flasks mix their contents and get a magical mixture.

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travel, ullustration, female looking at portraits in a gallery

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Bold illustration of a tiger, fish, oranges, and 2022 by Veronika Kiriyenko

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The Spanish Summer Survival Kit: A Lifestyle Illustration

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Illustrations of a person interacting with different mushrooms in nature

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Colorful ninja animal patches including panda, turtle, eagle, and others

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Hands showing dollar signs and bar chart in speech bubbles by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Editorial illustration of boy wrapped in a ribbon symbolizing listening by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Hand pouring hot sauce with fiery background by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Colorful dinosaur patches for kids' Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu kimonos by Veronika Kiriyenko

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Puzzle illustration of boy running in turkey-filled town square by Veronika Kiriyenko

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