Harriet Lee-Merrion
Award winning Bristol based illustrator.

ABOUT

Harriet Lee-Merrion is an award winning artist and illustrator. Her work is rendered in a wash of pastel colours and delicate black lines influenced by botanical engravings, surrealism, and Japanese woodblock prints. She has worked with international clients including Google, TED, The Guardian, Bloomsbury and The New York Times, while her work has also been exhibited internationally in New York, London and Berlin. She is the recipient of a 3x3 International Illustration Award for Editorial Illustration and is a winner of an American Illustration Award. Harriet is represented by Heart agency. She lives and works in Bristol, in the South West of England and has been working as an illustrator since graduating from Falmouth Arts University in 2013.

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Harriet Lee-Merrion (b. 1991) is a British illustrator known for her compelling and conceptually rich artworks, which have been commissioned by global brands and institutions across projects ranging from book covers and museum exhibits to jigsaws, limited edition prints, packaging design, and animation.

Harriet has a unique ability to approach complex subject matter with delicacy and sensitivity. Her work often involves creating visual solutions for abstract ideas, exploring themes ranging from science and history to identity and politics. Her research-driven process uncovers threads of meaning, shaping visually captivating and narratively rich work. Using traditional hand-drawn techniques with modern digital tools, each artwork is meticulously crafted with careful attention to detail.

Symbolic imagery is central to Harriet’s practice, inviting viewers into a shared, imagined landscape. Much consideration goes into the semiotic devices used within an artwork, whether through architectural motifs, abstract forms, or thoughtfully selected colour palettes.

She has worked with clients across the globe, and her work has been exhibited internationally in New York, London, and Berlin. She is the recipient of a 3x3 International Illustration Award for Editorial Illustration, and the winner of eight American Illustration Awards. Harriet has taught as an associate lecturer at several universities, spoken internationally on the topic of illustration, and developed and led a course on Conceptual and Editorial Illustration.

Harriet has been represented by Heart Agency since 2014. She lives and works in Bristol, in the South West of England, and has been working as an illustrator since graduating from Falmouth Arts University in 2013.

CONTACT

Personal - harriet@harrietleemerrion.com
London & Europe - info@heartagency.com
New York - nyc@heartagency.com

 
“Dream-like and distinctive her work resonates like a folktale.”
— AIGA
 

TALKS
2025 Falmouth Illustration Forum
2024 Falmouth University BA (Online)
2024 Falmouth University MA (Online)
2023 Falmouth University BA (Online)
2022 Falmouth University (Online)
2021 AOI x PIP (Online)
2021 Sao Paolo World School (Online)
2021 Arts University Bournemouth (Online)
2020 Leeds Arts University
2018 The Illustration Forum, Falmouth
2017 Arts University Bournemouth
2017 Plymouth University
2016 Falmouth University
2015 FIL Guadalajara Book Fair, Mexico

ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2022 IDEAS ISLAND, Sweden
2019 VARDA, California
2018 VARDA, California
2016 VYT, New York

“Harriet Lee-Merrion’s emotionally charged, complex and thoughtful work is absolutely breathtaking.”
— IT'S NICE THAT
 

AWARDS
2025 American Illustration Awards
2024 American Illustration Awards
2023 American Illustration Awards
2022 American Illustration Awards
2021 American Illustration Awards
2020 American Illustration Awards
2019 American Illustration Awards
2018 American Illustration Awards
2017 Global Arts Awards Nominated
2016 VYT Distinguished Artist Scholarship
2015 3x3 International Illustration Award

AWARDS IN COLLABORATION
2023 JAGDA (K. Fujita - Ko Rin Kyo Brand Book)
2019 SND’s Award of Excellence (Observer)

“Intricate and thoughtful work of fantastically conscientious worlds.”
— JUXTAPOZ
 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 Open Studios, Centrespace, Bristol
2019 Studio Artists, Centrespace, Bristol
2017 Go Figure, Spoke Art, NYC
  Solo show, Here Gallery, Bristol 
2016 Solo Show, Muun, Berlin
  Solo Show, Paper Gallery, Bristol
2015 Lara & Harriet, Here Gallery, Bristol
2014 Nine Artists, Paper Gallery, Bristol
  BME, Here Gallery, Bristol
2013 D&AD, New Blood, London
New Designers, London
  Graduate Show, Falmouth University
BME, Truro Arts, Penryn
  Love, The Poly, Falmouth
2012 Brink It On, Brink Hall Manor, Turku  

CLIENTS

Additions Elle, AIGA, Basho, Bloomsbury, Bon Marche, The British Library, British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Catapult, Condé-Nast, CSUS, Dorling Kindersley, The Economist, Esquire, Eurostar, Flamingo, Folio Society, GEO, Granta, Grow by Gingko, The Guardian, Google, Goop, Harpers, Harper Collins, Laurence King Publishing, Little Brown, Marie-Claire, New Scientist, New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Pentagram, Penguin Books, Portobello Books, Quarto, Radio Times, Royal Bank of Scotland, Rotary Club, Soho House, TED, University of Bristol, VOGUE, VSCO, Wallpaper*, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Wellcome Trust, Wellesley College, WIRED, WWF, and more.

“Harriet Lee Merrion’s distinct, beautiful illustrations have the feeling of being despatches from the world of sleep. Here is a place where dreams rule, metaphors mix and words come second to images.”
— ROSANNA DURHAM
Always a pleasure to draw author portraits, here’s one of @malcolmgladwell for @tricyclemag to accompany an interview by @anntashislater ⭐️ “I think of the bardo as an in-between place, but also as a place of possibility.” He refl
A final close-up of the isometric, monotone artwork I illustrated for @angelina.london. Inspired by their beautiful food and interiors, this was such a pleasure to create with the design team at @a_common_purpose_studio. The illustration featured acr
One more close-up of my artwork for @angelina.london . Drawn in delicate black lines, with a few areas softly blocked in to suggest depth. I used fine stippling to echo the texture of the marble. Working in black and white, I tried to create a sense
A portrait I created of @katherine_may_ for @tricyclemag, accompanying her conversation with @anntashislater on embracing life’s transitional periods. In their discussion, May reflects on the concept of “wintering”, those unwelcom
Another close-up from my illustration for @angelina.london, capturing the focus of the kitchen. I drew the chefs and staff from reference photos. It was a lot of fun to get immersed in depicting all these details, from the restaurant layout to the te
A portrait I created of @amitavawriter for @tricyclemag , accompanying his conversation with @anntashislater on grief, and the transformative power of storytelling. In their discussion, Kumar reflects on his father’s passing, and how art serve
A close-up of the dedicated pasta-making station at @angelina.london, which opens tomorrow in Spitalfields. Swipe to see the reference I worked from, to illustrate this scene (taken in their sister restaurant in Dalston). Illustrations for menu and
A recent portrait I drew of @bbosker for @tricyclemag, accompanying “Appreciating Life and Creating a Life Worth Appreciating,” an interview conducted by @anntashislater exploring how art challenges our perceptions and invites us to see m
Drawn from CGI references and architectural layouts, the entire space was transcribed into isometric perspective to reflect the restaurants layout accurately @angelina.london .You can see the initial sketch on the last slide. Such a fun process and a
It was a joy to draw this portrait of the brilliant Lorrie Moore for @tricyclemag . The interview, conducted by @anntashislater reflects on liminality, death, and the bardo, a fitting lens for Moore’s sharp, moving prose. Thank you to the team
A close up detail of my recent illustration for @angelina.london . Commissioned by @acommonpurpose, the illustration was designed to support both print and digital use, while aligning with the overall identity of the space. #harrietleemerrion #heart
Thrilled to hear that my portrait of Lore Segal has won an award from @american_illustration_winners ⭐️ Thank you again @nyrbooks and @shaptonia for the original commission, it is always a pleasure! “Story has a mind of its own and tells thi
It was a pleasure to illustrate this for @angelina.london ‘s new Osteria in Spitalfields. Commissioned by the brilliant team at @a_common_purpose_studio , the isometric artwork is drawn in black and white and captures the layout and character
Triangle Pose or Utthita Trikonasana 🙃📐 One of sixty artworks for Yoga Teacher in a Box, written by @centredspace published by @skittledogbooks @thamesandhudson 🌿
Yiyun Li for @tricyclemag interviewed by @anntashislater discussing grief, willpower, and the pursuit of happiness. It’s been a pleasure to illustrate yet another year for this series, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see this body
Lungin’ 🙏 One of sixty artworks for Yoga Teacher in a Box, written by @centredspace published by @skittledogbooks @thamesandhudson 🌿
A glimpse of 2024, a year of big things! I had a baby and got married, and fortunately found some time to make work. Here’s some highlights. 1. January. Life imitates art, fairly pregnant (7 months) and on a stone carving workshop ~ Cotswolds
Savasana into the new year 🙏 One of sixty cards I illustrated for Yoga Teacher in a a Box written by @centredspace published by @skittledogbooks @thamesandhudson
Thrilled to be part of the @tiffanyandco holiday campaign, counting down to Christmas—and honored to be the 24th artist featured on Christmas Eve! The campaign showcased 24 artists reimagining Tiffany’s iconic box through their own lens