Rising illustrator Jake Hawkins on conceptual art, queer themes, and winning awards in editorial illustration
By
Garrick Webster
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Summary
Profile of rising UK editorial illustrator Jake Hawkins, whose career has surged since 2021. Known for sleek, modern, and conceptually clever work with strong metaphors and queer themes, Hawkins won two awards in the American Illustrator issue 44 in 2025. The article explores how he thrives in the challenging but desirable field of editorial illustration, which has faced pressure from the decline of print media over the past two decades.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledI'm particularly drawn to briefs that allow for a conceptual response
With strong concepts, intelligent metaphors, and queer themes, this London-based artist is surging ahead in the world of editorial illustration.
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