Melbourne-based illustrator Kat Macleod is in high demand, both in her home country of Australia and in countries all over the world. Her quirky collages of fashionable women are all created by hand, using graphite, watercolor, fabric, and lots of glue. This perfectly imperfect process comes across as charmingly original when compared to the digitally-rendered fashion illustrations that have gained popularity in recent years.

Macleod studied Graphic Design at Swinburne University, where she was introduced to the design powerhouses behind the Australian-based design company 3 Deep Design. At the age of 20, she was given her first commission from the company: Illustrate a selection of drawings for publication in a book. In 2002, her illustrations were published in a limited-edition hardcover entitled Bird. This book—filled to the brim with whimsical drawings of women and birds—allowed Macleod to explore “how fashion and behavior can relate to each other.”

After graduation, Macleod went on to work for Fabio Ongarato Design before deciding to try her hand at freelance illustration. Her venture was a success: Her client list included Collette Dinnigan, the Australian Ballet, and Fiona Scanlan, among many others. In 2006, Macleod opened her very own design company (Ortolan) with two of her close friends, Chloe Quigley and Simone Elder. The trio focus on a mixture of branding, fashion, fine art, and architecture, collaborating with imaginative clients who value the exceptional work created by their team.

To see more of Macleod’s work, please visit The Jacky Winter Group.