LGBTQ+ Illustrators In The UK You Should Work With
As AI-generated content floods timelines and campaign decks, real illustrators are being pushed out of the very industries they helped build.
For LGBTQ+ artists, whose work is already undervalued, the rise of AI is not just a trend but a direct threat to livelihoods, expression, and community.
At Pansy Studios, we are delighted to have a pool of incredible LGBTQ+ illustrators whose work has been seen around the globe and who are contributing to a rich cultural landscape. From working with local businesses and community organisations to fronting major campaigns, they consistently create transformative works.
We’ve put together a curated list of LGBTQ+ illustrators from our network for you work deserves to be seen, shared, and most importantly, invested in.
Heidi Illustrates (she/her)
Heidi brings warmth, wit, and colour to everything she touches. Her illustrations often centre on queer intimacy, joyful expression, and seasonal themes, using bold colours, expressive positions, and a palette that feels distinctly sunny and coastal.
Based in Margate, her artwork is often site-specific and community-focused. Whether designing festival posters, window displays, or limited-edition products, Heidi’s visual storytelling feels fun, inclusive, and full of personality. She has created work for Apple (Platoon), Brewpoint, The Potting Shop, and Margate Pride, and she is currently the resident illustrator for Margate Mercury’s Almanac series across 2025 and 2026.
Boe La (they/she)
Boe is a multi-disciplinary artist with a bold, maximalist approach. Their illustrations are layered and textured, often created through screenprinting, riso, or hand-drawn linework. Boe’s style is rich with symbolism and detail, often incorporating elements from nature, alternative fashion, tattoo culture, and trans experiences.
Their use of colour is striking and deliberate, creating artworks that feel immersive and unapologetically queer. Whether working on comic illustrations, protest posters, or large-scale window installations, Boe brings a unique visual language to every project. Their past collaborations include Shado.mag, Wellcome Collection, Trans Learning Partnership, and Friends of the Joiners Arms.
Ashton Attzs (she/her)
is a UK-based painter and illustrator whose bold, blocky visuals have become synonymous with joy, vibrancy, and queerness. Their work captures everyday moments and turns them into scenes of celebration, focusing particularly on queer and trans joy.
With a client list that includes Universal Music UK, Adidas Originals, Moleskine, Lucy & Yak, and Google Pixel, Ashton has proven their ability to make inclusive art that resonates at scale without losing its soul. Whether you are designing a mural, an editorial spread, or a brand campaign, their visual language is unmistakably uplifting and unapologetic.
Kai Kathleen (they/them)
Kai Kathleen is a Surrey-based illustrator whose work is punchy, vibrant, and fiercely political. With themes ranging from body autonomy to queer empowerment, Sophie’s illustrations often sit at the intersection of art and activism.
Their work is especially powerful in campaigns tackling taboo topics or driving forward real-world change. They’ve run workshops in community spaces, led visual campaigns for activist groups, and worked with clients such as The UN Global Goals, Audible, Stonewall, Bloody Good Period, The Body Shop, and Lush. If your organisation wants to centre inclusive values in a bold, visible way, Kai’s your person.
Anshika Khullar (they/them)
AORISTS is the pseudonym of Anshika Khullar, a non-binary transgender illustrator originally from India and currently based in Southampton. Entirely self-taught, Anshika creates vibrant, metaphor-rich illustrations that are deeply character-driven and conceptually layered. Their visual style is bold, colourful, and unafraid to explore complexity. Every composition invites a closer look, with small details and hidden symbols revealing deeper themes around identity, culture, and mental health.
Much of Anshika’s work draws from their lived experience as a South Asian immigrant navigating queerness, trauma, and cultural hybridity. Their illustrations often explore intersectional feminist narratives, body neutrality, and the disorienting but powerful experience of holding multiple truths at once. Through dynamic colour choices and expressive figures, they balance emotional intensity with visual clarity, making their work instantly engaging but rewarding over time.
Wednesday Holmes (they/them)
Wednesday is an illustrator, author, and community organiser whose work is rooted in queer care, solidarity, and self-worth. Their illustrations combine soft pastels, block colours, and handwritten affirmations, creating work that speaks directly to people navigating mental health, identity, and belonging.
Often including characters with open arms (well, apart from the very cute illustrated snails) gentle eyes, and empowering words, Wednesday’s art is widely recognised for its emotional clarity and accessibility. They have created artwork for Gucci, Tate, BBC, The Outside Project, and many grassroots organisations. Their work sits at the intersection of art and activism and is ideal for books, social campaigns, and wellness-focused initiatives.
Hiring illustrators from within the LGBTQ+ community is not a trend - not only are these artists are not only talented and hard-working, they are deeply connected to the communities and movements their work reflects. At a time when automation threatens to erase individuality, their art reminds us that the most powerful work is always human.
If you need support commissioning, briefing, or art directing your next illustration project, Pansy Studios can help. Get in touch using the button below or email contact@pansystudios.co.uk
