Olivia Sullivan Illustrator and comic book artist from UK
Olivia Sullivan is a UK illustrator and comic book artist interested in landscapes and the surreal. She was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards and has designed album artwork for up-and-coming indie bands (Greet Death).
Her comics have been published by independent presses and she has contributed to various anthologies (Z2 Comics). Recently, she has been the concept artist for the video game Gecko Gods.
Currently, she is working on her graphic novel that is due to be released in 2026.
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What brought you to your art?
I always drew and wrote stories since I can remember. I was inspired by British comics such as The Beano and The Dandy and would make my own comics as a child. Music has also been an integral part to my art, lyricism and song inspire my writing and imagination. I also grew up on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon which had wacky characters and storylines that pushed boundaries, something I want to emulate within my own artwork. I decided to focus on art as a possible career option after school and graduated from The University of Arts London with a BA Illustration and a MA from The Royal College of Art.
How did you get the opportunity to participate in Cornelia's 'Artists in Residence Program'?
I was told about the program through my friend Ayesha Gamiet, a fellow artist in residence, who suggested I share my work with Cornelia and discuss my projects to explore in Tuscany. I was very grateful for the opportunity to meet with other creatives where we could talk about our work, explore the surroundings, and cook together every day. I haven’t had an artist experience like this, and I will remember it fondly for years to come.
How did you like your time at Fraggina? Did you find inspiration there?
I stayed at the new site at Mulinaccio, but did visit Fraggina for talks with Cornelia and the other artists in the program. I focused on my graphic novel for the week I was at the residency. The natural surroundings with its variety of wildlife inspired worldbuilding and a sense of peace to work on a subject matter that is about grief and processing difficult emotions.
What did you take home from there?
I was able to focus purely on my personal project, which is a rare luxury, and I developed a more consistent routine that I was able to continue back home. I was also able to be more present, take my time and observe more in nature. It is easy to neglect projects when there are other jobs and commitments, so this residency helped put my goals back into perspective.