@beeillustrates - Creative Instagrammers

In this blog series ‘Creative Instagrammers’, we introduce you to some of the inspiring creators on Instagram who have developed their own unique style. We’ll be asking them about how they make their content, the challenges they face and for tips and advice to get those creative juices flowing.

Introducing Creative Instagrammer: @beeillustrates

@beeillustrates, photography by Charlie Hyams

Hi Bee, what’s your creative process for creating illustrations for your Instagram?

Usually a topic plays on my mind for a while before you see it as art on my Instagram! There are also MANY many drawings that never make it to my social media. Sometimes they’re abandoned altogether, sometimes they get revisited later on. Creating art is something that I find so cathartic – I use drawing almost as a form of therapy. I make art that tells me things I need to hear, and it turns out other people do too!

What prompted you to start sharing illustrations on Instagram?

I had always posted my drawings on social media – from about 2015 onwards, but my account was primarily just a personal one. When I started my degree in illustration at the University of Edinburgh in 2017, it meant I was creating new art pretty much every day and I would post bits and pieces of what I’d gotten up to – as well as pieces I made in my own time.

I’ve always been a passionate advocate for various issues, and so much of myself is infused into my work, as well as my social media – I think of my art as an extension of my personality!

@beeillustrates was nominated for a Blogosphere Award in the Health and wellbeing influencer of the year category. #BlogosphereAwards2021
– Blogosphere

Is there a particular post you shared that really cemented that this is the style of content you enjoy and people respond well to?

It’s so hard to choose! I think it might be the ‘I didn’t ask you’ piece I created back in 2018. It was a reworked rendition of a much earlier drawing I did in 2015/2016 for a friends birthday. ‘I didn’t ask you’ was one of the first pieces I ever got made into prints, and is one of the founding pieces of my online shop!

What’s been your favourite brand collaboration to date and why?

I’m so grateful that literally every single brand partnership has been an absolute dream – but I absolutely loved creating a window display for Vans back in May. I spent four days creating a large scale piece of queer art as part of their Pride celebrations. I’d never done anything like it before, but it was so much fun!