New Artist: Ramona Bruno

11 June 2025

Get to know our newest illustrator Ramona Bruno!

Please can you tell us where you are from and where do you currently live and work? Has this effected your work?

I was born in the south of Italy, my home town is Salerno, overlooking the sea and known for the fantastic Amalfi coast that frames it.

Since 2019, I have moved to the south of France and started my business here. Being open to a different culture and language has given a boost to my work as an illustrator. Everywhere I turned I saw illustration used for any commercial or non-commercial communication. The French are connoisseurs of beautiful images and clear lines, and I immediately tried to incorporate everything I saw into my artistic path.

What inspired you to be an illustrator?

I madly love Disney cartoons, and growing up I also loved the works of Dreamworks. At the beginning I tried to copy the cartoons created by Chris Sanders, and when the animation switched to 3D, I bought the art books of the films and studied the character design, backgrounds, scenarios and the study of the expressions of the characters, mainly from the films: The Road to El Dorado, The Prince of Egypt, Lilo & Stitch and Dragon Trainer .

I really like the dynamism of the forms that gives strength to the expression of the character's emotionality.

I must say, however, that I only seriously thought about the work of the illustrator after I got to know the work of Naoko Takeuchi, the famous creator of Sailor Moon and Fuyumi Souryo.

How long have you been working as an illustrator?

I have always drawn in my life, even when I was at school I needed to draw concept maps to fix everything in my mind. But the big step of going freelance came in March 2019, when I opened a Siret for artists and authors in France.

How would you describe your illustration style?

My can be described as ironic and funny but at the same time really dynamic. I love to draw my characters moving and occupying the space around them. At the same time I try to use a colour consistency tending towards saturated and bright tones.

Who/What have been your key influences as an illustrator?

Chris Sanders, Naoko Takeuchi and Fuyumi Souryo were my main artists of reference, but I would be lying if I didn't say that there were many who later joined in. As my course of study was quite tortuous and intricate, I started by studying art and architecture and had the opportunity to delve into the purist painting of Le Courbusier, the modernist work of Mario Sironi and I wrote a thesis on the relationship between art and architecture, in which I analysed the dimensions of perception in the age of post-truth.

And it was only after that that I realised I wanted to work in the field of publishing and the creation of books, which I still consider to be meta-objects capable of expanding our cognitive perceptions using the oldest material in the world: paper.

What type of projects, clients or illustration markets would you like to work in?

I do very well in any project I am offered, I like to range from pattern design, editorial illustration, educational, to industrial product design. However, I realised that I have developed a particular fondness for middle grade fiction and chapter books. I think if I ever wrote a book, it would be this type right here.

Nevertheless, I would like to set no limits for myself, and I am open to whatever new adventure the future may bring.

What do you like doing when you are not illustrating?

In summer I love to take the ar and explore the surroundings of my region, the south of France is so big, and I have developed a passion for discovery and tourist attractions.

I often drive to the vineyards of Le Lavandou and then take a swim at the nearest beach.

In winter, I love staying at home reading books and organising board game nights, baking sweet and savoury pies.

What would be your dream project?

I would love to work on a book about one of my stories (I have a couple I've been working on for years), and I would love it to come out something like Joe Todd-Stanton's 'The secret of Black Rock'.

That would really be a dream come true, I really hope it can happen.

Click here if you would like to commission Ramona