Sonia Leong
I've worked in the UK as a professional illustrator specialising in Anime / Manga style since 2004 and have an extensive bibliography of comic books, graphic novels and guidebooks, as well as various credits for film / TV design and presentation, and even some competition wins (all you have to do is Google me or go to my official website to see my full bio). But I am entirely self taught! My method is mainly identifying contours, volume and ratios, then fine-tuning details with draft lines before inking outlines and adding colour, either entirely traditionally with markers, watercolours or coloured pencils, or digitally. Although I have to be flexible in my line of work (as I am often asked to do different projects in different styles) I am consistent in how I like to create characters and tell stories. Art-wise, I am known for my line work and when I'm not working in black-and-white, my bright, shiny, high contrast use of colour and shading. I love drawing beautiful characters with sparkly eyes, flowing hair and lovely costumes, and I don't apologise for it!
Discover contemporary artworks by Sonia Leong, browse recent artworks and buy online. Categories: contemporary british artists. Artistic domains: Drawing, Digital Arts. Account type: Artist , member since 2005 (Country of origin United Kingdom). Buy Sonia Leong's latest works on Artmajeur: Discover great art by contemporary artist Sonia Leong. Browse artworks, buy original art or high end prints.
Artist Value, Biography, Artist's studio:
Eastern Style: original art prints featuring East Asian design • 6 artworks
View allAnime & Manga Illustrations previews • 9 artworks
View allRecognition
The artist has won prizes and awards
The artist has been published in the media, radio or TV press
Exercises the profession of artist as a main activity
Biography
I've worked in the UK as a professional illustrator specialising in Anime / Manga style since 2004 and have an extensive bibliography of comic books, graphic novels and guidebooks, as well as various credits for film / TV design and presentation, and even some competition wins (all you have to do is Google me or go to my official website to see my full bio). But I am entirely self taught! My method is mainly identifying contours, volume and ratios, then fine-tuning details with draft lines before inking outlines and adding colour, either entirely traditionally with markers, watercolours or coloured pencils, or digitally. Although I have to be flexible in my line of work (as I am often asked to do different projects in different styles) I am consistent in how I like to create characters and tell stories. Art-wise, I am known for my line work and when I'm not working in black-and-white, my bright, shiny, high contrast use of colour and shading. I love drawing beautiful characters with sparkly eyes, flowing hair and lovely costumes, and I don't apologise for it!
- Nationality: UNITED KINGDOM
- Date of birth : 1982
- Artistic domains: Works by professional artists,
- Groups: Professional Artist Contemporary British Artists
Influences
Education
Artist value certified
Achievements
Prizes and Awards
Publications & Press
Activity on Artmajeur
Latest News
All the latest news from contemporary artist Sonia Leong
London Expo
ExCel Centre, Docklands
15,000-20,000 people, one weekend! The London Expo is a huge event featuring lots of celebrities, film showings, demonstrations and more from film, television and entertainment. This year, an entire section is dedicated to Anime, Manga and Cosplay! I will be there as part of Sweatdrop Studios, exhibiting, judging and presenting workshops all about anime and manga. hope to see you there!
Press release
Double whammy news - I'm also in Aniway Issue #20, a Dutch Anime/Manga magazine. My full colour 6-page short story comic, "Tea Time" was printed as the English language feature! This came out last month, but I'm only picking up my copy now, apologies!
Sweatdrop Studios was also filmed at the London Expo in May for Big Monster TV, visit the Letraset site to watch the short video clip. I'm in it too! Chinese girl in the bright red cheongsam. ^_^
Please check out my NEW Appearances Page on my personal site to find out more details!
Finally, I'm cleaning up my personal site in various places - my commissions page has been re-worded and should be a lot clearer. I haven't updated the example images yet to take into account my newer (and nicer), I will once a big book deadline is over! Please note that I am now a full time freelance artist and illustrator for hire!
Email me to find out more, or search for Sonia Leong on google to get to my personal site.
Judge, International Manga and Anime Festival (IMAF) 2005 and 2006
Since my work was displayed as a standout during the first year of IMAF in 2004, I had been asked to design the official mascots of the 2005 campaign, and have been involved as a judge for the past 2 years. The competition has an US$ 85,000 prize fund, and the exhibition is held at London Country Hall.
Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga UK & Ireland (2005/2006)
In their very first competition held in the UK, I came second place with my entry, "Fatal Connection". This is featured in the official Volume 1 anthology, internationally published.
NEO Magazine Manga Competition 2005
My entry was one of the 5 winners of this competition. A five page manga called "Power Trip". You can view this manga from my official website.
Newspaper articles
My latest graphic novel, Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet published by SelfMadeHero has received favourable reviews from several UK broadsheet dailies, including the Independent, Financial Times and the Guardian. Please visit my officila website to view the scans of the newspaper articles:
appear.html#press
Magazine Articles
I'm regularly featured in the UK's only Asian popculture Magazine, NEO. I've also made appearances in other anime-related magazine internationally (Animania from Germany) and in other art/lifestyle magazines. Please view my appearnaces page on my officila website for more details:
appear.html
Manga Workshops
I run lots of Manga workshops across the UK, and even across the Pond to the States! Get in touch with me if you are looking to run a workshop at a school, library or museum. Past/future appearances include London MCM Expo, Boston Anime 2007, Artist & Illustrators Exhibition 2004, V&A Museum, Bournemouth Russell-Cotes Museum, University of Derby Buxton Dome...
Biography
Sonia is a professional illustrator specialising in the Anime/Manga style and comic artwork. Her latest graphic novel is a Manga adaptation of Romeo & Juliet published by Self Made Hero / Metromedia UK. Her entry to Tokyopop’s first UK Rising Stars of Manga competition came 2nd place and features in the official anthology. Other competition achievements include Winner in NEO Magazine's 2005 Manga Competition and judging for the International Manga and Anime Festival (IMAF), which has a US$85,000 prize fund. Her work is appearing an upcoming British movie, Popcorn, directed by Darren Paul Fisher, starring Jack Ryder (EastEnders) and Jodie Albert (Hollyoaks). Sonia is a core member of Sweatdrop Studios, the leading UK comic collaborative. Her works with Sweatdrop include Murder on the Dancefloor (appearing in the first UK-produced Manga anthology, Sugardrops), Once Upon a Time, and Cyborg Butterfly. She works in a variety of mediums, including watercolour, pen & ink, screentone, alcohol colour markers, pencils and computer software. She has exhibited artwork in prestigious venues (London County Hall, London Cartoon Museum, Japanese Embassy), provided product demonstrations (on behalf of Copic, Letraset and Wacom) and regularly presents workshops on Manga artwork in schools and libraries. Her illustrations have been featured in several Manga-related publications, events, websites and magazines internationally.
Article
I've recently started to pursue artwork full time as a career because my favourite art style, the dyanamic, Japanese cartooning form known as Manga (also called Anime due to the stylistic Japanese animations using this style of drawing) has become incredibly popular in the UK, and is gaining momentum.
I not only create individual art pieces and illustrations, but also create comics and sequential art. More than anything, comics are about telling a story and I find that when I read manga/comics, that is what makes me turn the pages more than anything. Pretty artwork however, is what makes you pick it up in the first place. ^_^;;
Good luck to all artists out there. And don't forget - improve.... or die. ^_~ That's mine and my artist group's motto.