Top 50 Pen and Ink Artists You Need to Know About (And Their Iconic Work)

Christopher is a self taught emerging artist currently near in the city of Bath, painting expressive and vibrant landscapes that draw from the locale's sense of place. Chris's paintings have been exhibited around Bath, Bristol and Cornwall, where he also continues to explore for inspiration to develop his paintings. Working as an Architect full time and painting with whatever spare time he can find, Chris' work is rooted between detail and abstraction. The paintings explore a range of the environments we inhabit, from cityscapes and their contrasting architectural puzzles to coastal seascapes and the wild and unpredictable forms they take. The use of mixed media including acrylic, oil pastels and fine line pen encourage both his architectural and artistic sensibilities to paint detail surrounded by abstraction and expression. These are key aspects of his work creating unpredictable, unique and playful compositions.

I love learning new methods of working. From 1970 – 1993 I worked mainly in Collage and Enamel. During my MA studies 1973 -75, I began using mixed media and work became more abstract, looking at themes like erosion and change. I work in series to explore subject matter and often there is an underlying theme of memento mori. In 2013, moving to a more urban environment I discovered Wabi Sabi, the Japanese philosophy of accepting nothing stays the same and finding beauty in the imperfect. Subjects from world events from fake news, to covid crept into my subject matter in the pastel and collage images I made last year. I am presently working on the theme of borders between sky, land, and water. I am seeking to explore the Humber from Hessle near the Humber Bridge, where I live and the landscape and industries along its banks to Spurn Point and the seashore villages and towns along the eroding coast. Recording my present location seems important in the light of climate change at risk from flooding and coastal erosion. Changing industries chart its history from the prehistoric to present times. wartime defences still exist in the fortresses in the Humber itself and the remains of tank traps at spurn Point. I hope to explore it all in relevant media and present it in such a way it becomes a journey. It will probably be the last project in my artistic life but presents me with an exciting challenge. I will certainly never be bored!

My name is Cherry and I'm a coloured pencil artist! I spend my days drawing animals, from pets to wildlife, from my home studio in the gorgeous Hertfordshire countryside. I've always had a huge love of dogs and after drawing my own two pups, Cherry Watson Illustration began! Since late 2017 I have been lucky enough to illustrate so many animals, predominately pet portraits of our beloved dogs, cats, horses and the occasional parrot! My work also includes beautiful wildlife pieces, from hares and pheasants to fallow deer, and animals I see on my daily dog walks, like gorgeous cows and birds!

In January 2020, I ruptured my Achilles tendon. Being immobilised and signed off work, I started to draw every day, and I haven't stopped since: it's now the reason I get out of bed in the morning. It might seem strange, even disgraceful, for a man in his late 30s to start pursuing an artistic pathway. An archetypal mid-life crisis. But there is nothing inherently bad about a crisis: Yes, there is danger and difficulty, but also, potentially, a turning point and a renewal. In terms of my artistic perspective, I am interested in urban sketching and illustration. My work aims to capture the liveliness of our environment, with a strong emphasis on play and more than a hint of anarchy.

I'm a mixed media artist now living in Nottingham, I have always painted and drawn ever since I can remember and always believed that I would eventually work in this field, but my career took me on a path working with children developing their self esteem and wellbeing which I loved and was also able to use my creativity in a more therapeutically direction. In 2016 myself and my husband was given the opportunity to live in Wisconsin USA for 5 years, during this time I rediscovered my love and need to create art for my own mental health. I draw inspirations from my travels, the colourful vistas of Americas National Parks, the vibrancy of cities like Toyko and San Francisco. I'm currently enjoying working with alcohol inks, which can produce such intense colours whilst maintaining a fluidity which can only be controlled up to a certain point, so you never fully know how it’s going to turn out - which is part of the fun! But I also enjoy other mediums, watercolours, acrylic and ink pads, no matter what my subjects are, whether its female nudes or landscapes, you can be sure that they are always colourful!

Andrew Allsop is a Leeds based artist working to capture snapshots of the city he loves. He predominantly workis in ink and paints; sketching, painting and screen printing. His work looks at both the grand architecture and the everyday scenes that make his northern home unique.

My name is Sophie-Rose Walters and I am a Birmingham based artist. I have been massively involved in the art scene from a very young age. I specialise In fine liner black and white art, graffiti art, oil paint and ink work. My paintings are usually abstract as I like to experiment with colour and texture. I like to make my own stencils for my artwork. I like to use influences of Andy Warhol and Piet Mondrian. I admire how simple yet creative the work of these artists was. I recently got more involved In the Digbeth art scene of Birmingham by being involved in a small exhibition along side other artists to which I displayed 10 pieces of work and sold smaller prints of my work in the gallery shop. I am hoping to extend my knowledge and become more involved in the art scene all over the country as I like to meet other artists and exchange ideas of ways I can make my art better, what I could do differently and how I could portray it differently. I find this helps.

Polly Chilcott primarily explores print-making and ink drawings through her art, although often enjoys experimenting with any medium available. Recently her work has taken a more abstract turn, exploring ideas and subjects indirectly - with accompanying explanations often transforming the perceptions of her work. Since leaving school last year, Polly has worked to pursue every creative opportunity within reach and find her place in the Sheffield art scene. Alongside studying at college, she is involved with local art galleries and businesses such as ‘SITE gallery’ and ‘APG works’, as well as writing and illustrating for a political collaborative publication.

Hi, I’m Mark. I’ve drawn on and off all my life. As a child I would draw on anything with anything. Growing up in a working class family in the 70sart supplies were a luxury so ball point pens and cereal cartons were put to good use. I never actually studied art until I took an Art and Design course with the Open College of the Arts in my 20s. With a young family, a mortgage and a demanding career in ITI could never find the time to devote to art.30 years later my kids are grown, the mortgage is paid off and I’ve recently retired from IT. I’m now trying to make a living from art and I have never been happier. My favourite medium is ink. I love the clarity and contrast that drawing in dark lines gives. I find it absorbing; the concentration required forces total focus. You can’t erase ink you have to work with what you’ve laid down. I try and strike a balance between realism and impressionism so my style is correct perspective and proportion with a loose sketchiness. I hope you like the results.

Maria was born in a tiny mountain village in Spain. She grow up surrounded by forests, animals and fairytales, which are her main inspiration. She started painting with her grandad when she was a child but it wasn’t until she moved to Edinburgh in 2018 when she began to share her illustrations with the rest of the world through Instagram and her online shop. She’s a self-taught artist who is starting to find her place in the illustration world, her dream is to become a children’s book illustrator. At the moment she’s illustrating a Fairytale for a local writer from her homeland which is going to be published at the end of this year. Her style is delicate, very sensitive and magical… She loves playing with different shades of blue to create misty and romantic scenes. Edmund Dulac, Gemma Capdevila or Christian Birmingham are some of her favourite illustrators. She is in love with nature and life and believes that the actual real world is the most magical thing that exists. Apart from painting Maria loves history and art and she works as a part time tour guide in Edinburgh where she shares wonderful stories and curiosities with travellers from all over the world.

Scottish artist Liana Moran has exhibited her work in a range of exhibition venues and festivals since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 2010. Liana’s work consists of large architectural drawings responding to the environment, structure and materials within cities around Scotland. Lots of mark making, large canvases and plenty of ink. She was shortlisted for The Derwent and Jerwood Drawing prize and exhibits widely. From the Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh, Pall Mall Galleries London to the very local DOK in Leith. Liana’s work was recently included in ‘The Edinburgh Art Book’. She works from her studio in Leith.

Seeking to amplify the voices of those that are often ignored, Hannah uses dot work art to explore themes of social injustice whilst also celebrating those who are the very best of us. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, Hannah's work highlights the experiences of marginalised and vulnerable people through detailed, monotone pieces. The world is a volatile place, inhabited by many wonderful people and Hannah's work explores the sometimes difficult to reconcile contrasts. Everybody has a role to play in improving society, and Hannah will continue to use her skills to play her role. Along with amplifying the powerful messages behind these movements, Hannah also uses her distinct pieces to celebrate and promote a variety of ideas and cultures. Born and raised in a multi cultural town in the West Midlands, the relationships built over the last 20+ years have shown Hannah the importance of sharing and experiencing the personal history of others. The pieces produced require patience, attention to detail and the occasional 'start over'! Hannah hopes those who experience her work can take as much out of it as she puts in.

I have always been fascinated with the edges of landscapes, where one space collides with another. I grew up in Whitby, which lies on the boundary between moors and sea. Sheffield, my home now, has many layers to explore as its history is directly tied to every river and every valley that feeds it. In the borderlands between the city and the wilds surrounding it, there is so much industrial heritage slowly being absorbed into the surrounding woods and park lands. I find these spaces fascinating. Sitting and studying an old bridge, its alignment in the landscape, and the age of the stonework is often as enjoyable as the act of creating art. As a professional commercial photographer, I usually work to a client’s brief and my previous career as an industrial designer was equally constrained. My art provides me with a sense of playful freedom and I strongly believe that, as adults, we sometimes forget the power play has to benefit our overall wellbeing. I create work quickly and sketching allows me to work with flexibility and speed. I find the ‘minimal’ captivating. A simple set of lines and a splash of colour can be so expressive.

Doodlher is a pen illustrator based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Her detailed black pen drawings aim to tell stories, share moments, spark curiosity, and are often paired with bold colour blocks and backgrounds. Places, people, stories and history are HUGE influences to her work. She also enjoy working to topical themes and sharing messages through her art. Doodlher’s portfolio of commissioned art includes illustrations for brand merchandise, murals, venue promotion, and portraits. She also sells prints, postcards, and original drawings though her official website and Etsy shop.

I am a freelance Illustrator and Animator, specialising in character design and watercolour paintings. I enjoy taking on lots of projects and want to take on more - I like things that allow me to learn new skills and push boundaries. I am currently working on illustrations for my own shop but also take commissions. I have designed characters for script treatments, created tattoo designs, and personalised portraits. I am inspired by the world around me, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community I oen draw images related to supporting this. I enjoy expressing love in all forms, and drawing animals and nature. Recently, I started creating designs for buildings and views around my home City, Sheffeld.