Meet London-based illustrator, animation director, and animator, Chu-Chieh Lee.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I am Chu. I am a freelance illustrator, animation director, and animator based in London, working in the motion graphics industry for most of the time. I am now represented by Folio Illustration Agency in London. Sometimes I do editorial illustrations. I was proudly born and raised in Taiwan, a lovely, warm and friendly country.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I am currently living in a creative hub – London. Living in London has its upside and downside. It’s an amazing city to live and work in. There are lots of inspiring things happening in every corner at the same time. You will never get bored. However, It’s also very hard to survive in such a competitive industry and make a living due to the high living cost.

Living in London has its upside and downside. It’s an amazing city to live and work in.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best thing to live in London for me is that I would be able to have chances to work with amazing, talented people. And I love that there are so many beautiful parks in London. Picnicking in a park is always one of the best things to do in summer. The worst thing for me is probably commuting by the underground at peak hours.

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Dynamic, challenging and fun.

How did you start your career in art?

I started my creative career with an internship at a motion company called Bito Studio when I was in Taipei, Taiwan. It was my very important start point. I’d learned a lot while working there. After years of relentlessly cooking loads of projects and learning, I then came to London to explore more possibilities. See how far I can go.

See how far I can go.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

Yes, my family is quite supportive and open-minded for me learning and working as a creative. Most of the people around me when I was growing up are artists and creators. So basically everyone is quite supportive of each other.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I wish to make more personal animation films. Making them in an experimental way without any restrictions and boundaries. I’d like to try more different mediums apart from digital art, such as stop motion or drawing in crayons frame by frame for animation. Get away from computers from time to time.

I wish to make more personal animation films.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Milton Glaser

How would you describe the women around you?

Friendly, inspiring and supportive.

There are several groups in London for female creators in the animation/ illustration industry. And everyone is quite warm and supportive of each other in the community. It’s really nice to see women who are working in the creative industry gathering around, helping and learning from each other.

Friendly, inspiring and supportive.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

Not really. I guess when I was growing up, I learned art from teachers in schools and from art /design history mostly. No particular female creatives that I really looked up to. But I definitely learned and got inspired a lot from female peers in schools.

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

Yes, sometimes I work with teams that are full of boys. It’s quite intimidating and isolated to be the only female creative in the room somehow. This kind of situation isn’t always caused by gender bias but it would be nice to have more female creators working together.

Be patient and passionate about what you are keen to do.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Photos courtesy of Chu-Chieh Lee.