Visual Communication Talks 2022–23:
Erica Choi and Rohan Eason

Rohan Eason is an English pen and ink illustrator. His work has become widely used in book illustration for children and adults.

Rohan grew up surrounded by creatives – his father is a ceramicist, his sister a printmaker, his mother multi-disciplinary artist and his uncle was a painter. Although there were always art materials around when he was a child, and he felt his destiny was to be an artist, eventually he rebelled and joined a band. One day, he was struck by some Aubrey Beardsley prints in his grandmother’s house and decided to write his dissertation on the artist. Today, Rohan has a portfolio full of similar work covering everything from fabric prints to children’s books.

Rohan uses pen and ink, and generally works in black and white. All his work begins with a focus on composition. He decides on the elements required in the image, and then how to arrange them. After coming up with an effective structure, he moves on to fine tuning the viewpoint and the emphasis in the image, to give it an emotional impact.

Some categorize Rohan’s style as classical, but he sees it as thoroughly modern. There’s strength and clarity in his work, alongside subtle nuances that will remind you of Art Nouveau. Beardsley’s influence is clear, but Rohan is also a fan of Arthur Rackham’s illustrations, and the art of Mark Grotjahn and Mark Rothko, among others.

His clients include Oxford University Press, Random House, Marlborough Press. Orion, One Peace Books, Royal Shakespeare Company, Black Maps Press, Rapha, Allude.

Erica Choi is London-based Designer who started design career as a junior Art Director in Seoul, Korea and has since been working across the globe in cultural sectors such as architecture, fashion, art, education, property and hospitality. Erica has created communications and identity systems especially for urban and cultural sectors that have transformed businesses and boosted brand potential. Her role has been leading briefs from initial concept, through artwork stage, installation and launches on/offline platforms such as publication, branding, exhibitions and digital design solution. Erica has a passion for strategic thinking and solutions with a compelling visual language – emphasising beauty and always striking the right tone. 

ericachoi.co.uk

This event is part of an annual series of talks by illustrators, animators, and graphic designers organised by the Visual Communication course team at the School of Art, Architecture and Design.