Studying on the road with Illustration graduate Jasmine Hortop
16 September 2025
Credit: Bella Bunce
Life was pretty good for Jasmine Hortop, as an in-house and freelance illustrator travelling and living in a campervan. Yet after a decade in the industry, she realised she was missing a sense of connection with her work.
“I wanted to go deeper into my practice and be clearer on my ‘why’,” explains Jasmine. “This alternative lifestyle had given me the time and finances to return to education. I knew of Falmouth’s excellent reputation as an arts university and seized this unique opportunity to study on the road in my little art studio on wheels.”
Jasmine describes her Illustration MA (Online) as “a deeply formative experience” that provided the space for experimentation and discussion. “It allowed me to evaluate my current portfolio and refine my creative voice and visual language,” she says.
“The research element was particularly valuable, enabling me to explore how illustration can drive environmental awareness and advocacy. I gained confidence in presenting ideas, collaborating with others and positioning my work within a broader social and political context.”
The time and space the course gave Jasmine allowed her to delve deep. “Focusing on a much longer personal project – reflecting on my own experiences on spending time in the ocean to help with ADHD – helped me really develop my visual language in a way that felt so meaningful for me”, she explains.
“My installation project from my Final Major Project also really challenged me to push myself, and to explore the boundaries of where my illustration could lie. I developed a business plan alongside a framework of immersion and co-creation, that could be applied for future projects and used for funding applications.”
“Every project I now work on is aligned with my values,” adds Jasmine, who is based at Cornwall creative hub Krowji and has signed with illustration agency Making Pictures.
“I’ve felt a great sense of depth within my work and a strong sense of direction with my own purposeful projects. My MA helped me work through the fog and tangibly carve my own path with my artivism projects.”
Recent highlights include working on the UK’s first water activated mural for World Water Day, illustrating for the World Wildlife Fund and painting a 45msq entrance to a surf festival.
Beyond her successful illustration career, which has seen her nominated for a World Illustration Award, Jasmine is continuing her involvement in creative education. “I’m looking forward to continuing to use art to make impact and I’m delighted this year to start a role as a part-time university lecturer – bringing my illustration career full circle.”
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