Rachel Gannon

Rachel Gannon is an illustrator and educator. Since graduating from the Royal Collage of Art in 2007, she has worked across various areas of illustration as well as teaching across numerous institutions. Rachel is currently Course Leader for BA Illustration Animation at Kingston University. Rachel’s visual communication research is routed in documentary illustration and in 2015 she was awarded the Reportage Award with her work on Frontiers, documenting those areas of the UK that we could classify as contemporary frontiers; particularly the docks of the South East coast. Since it’s inception, Rachel has been a member of reportage illustration research group, Reportager based at the University of West of England. Rachel is represented commercially by Eye Candy Illustration Agency. She has work on permanent display at the Victoria and Albert museum and the Royal London Hospital. Rachel’s illustration work has included including editorial, publishing, web design, advertising, exhibition design & animation, for clients such as The Guardian, The Natural History Museum, Tate Modern and Condé Nast. Clients include: The Guardian, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal London Hospital, The Natural History Museum, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Big Draw, Tate Modern, Vital Arts, Condé Nast, Graniph, Spitalfields Music.

For years illustration has lacked a strong critical history in which to frame it, with academics and media alike assessing it as part of design rather than a discipline in its own right. Illustration Research Methods addresses this void and adds to a fast-emerging discipline, establishing a lexicon that is specific to discussing contemporary illustration practice and research. The chapters are broken down into the various roles that exist within the industry and which illustration research can draw from, such as 'Reporting' and 'Education'. In doing so, users are able to explore a diverse range of disciplines that are rich in critical theory and can map these existing research methodologies to their own study and practice. Supported by a wealth of case studies from international educators, student projects sit alongside those of world-renowned illustrators. Thus allowing users the opportunity to put what they have learnt into context and offering insight into the thinking and techniques behind some of illustrations' greats.