Illustrator Katy Streeter's joyful art reminds us to see the funny side of life

"I find catharsis in humour and finding fun in uncertain situations," Katy tells Creative Boom. "Communicating all types of themes in an accessible and light-hearted way is very important to me. I think (appropriately) poking fun at difficult topics can take away the taboo and power they hold over us, and help us feel a little lighter and opens up discussions."

Katy has just graduated with a first-class degree in illustration and animation from the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury and has gone straight into freelancing, ahead of becoming a graduate teaching assistant at UCA next year. Keeping herself busy with client projects, she has launched an Etsy Shop and secured a part-time position in social media for a graphic design company, too.

With little time to spare, she has also published her first zine, The Great Indoors – a playful expression of boredom, creative block, loneliness and wearing exclusively loungewear during a global pandemic.

"I began drawing for fun around five years ago and found such fulfilment in the process, I just knew that it was something I had to pursue," Katy tells Creative Boom. "Growing up, I used to channel my creativity into performing arts and theatre, which I think has influenced my illustrative style. I tend to make vibrant and dramatic images with expressive characters."

Her fun and playful style celebrates the weird and wonderful in the mundane. "My inspiration mostly comes from regular and gross moments of everyday life – people-watching, a funny conversation, a weird outfit, a strange rumour or some personal memories. I find it fun to self-reflect, laugh at my own idiosyncrasies and then capture that moment visually," she says.

How has Katy found this year so far? "It's been a weird time to graduate and be thrust into the chaos of the real world. This year has been a learning curve of having to adapt and also find some sort of peace with how things are. It's difficult to keep optimistic when it feels like the world is ending, but there are glimmers of hope that have kept me going and kept me creating. Being open to opportunities and trying to keep pro-active in my work has been a lovely distraction from the realities of current life. I hope to continue making weird and gross stuff long into the future!"