Meet animation director and illustrator from London, Qianhui Yu

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I am Qianhui Yu, an animation director, illustrator, creative visual designer living in London. I love creatures and nature, surreal fantasy, future and past, neglected things. I made filters and take photos in my free time too. My interest lies in candy-colour aesthetic, creatures and nature, surreal fantasy, future materials, minority issues or people, along with expanded creative methods. I studied Animation at the Royal College of Art and just graduated, now I am just trying to live in London and see where will it take me.

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

I moved to London for two years ago, it is a busy city that full of diverse new things, and so different than the cities I lived in China (Hangzhou/Shanghai/Guilin) before, it was an enormous culture shock for me to live here by myself, and it is definitely the most creative city I’ve ever lived in.

I can feel the creative vibe every day.

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

I can feel the creative vibe every day. The good thing that living in London is you will never get bored in this city, there are always art events, exhibitions happening at any time, and I met lots of amazing friends.  The worst part is the living cost here is crazily expensive, also I can feel much career pressure from my gifted peers.

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

Pressure, diversity, challenging

How did you start your career in art?

Influenced by my dad, I started drawing when I was a little girl. I moved to Hangzhou when I was 14 and enrolled in the high school affiliated to China Academy of Art, so everything came out quite naturally; I went to the same academy studying New media art, where I had my first chance to approach animation which made me realise what kind of thing I wanted to keep working on. Two years ago I came to London and studied Animation at the Royal College of Art and just graduated, now I am just living in London and see where it will take me.

Two years ago I came to London and studied Animation at the Royal College of Art and just graduated, now I am just living in London and see where it will take me.

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

I was very lucky that my family and friends all fully supported me to become an artist.

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

For the future, I hope I can be an animation director or freelance artist so I can have more chance to work on some interesting projects, continue to develop my current visual style and character design, and also trying to have more opportunities to continue making work that deals with environmental issues.

For the future, I hope I can be an animation director or freelance artist so I can have more chance to work on some interesting projects, continue to develop my current visual style and character design, and also trying to have more opportunities to continue making work that deals with environmental issues.

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

Bjork!

How would you describe the women around you?

Most of them are strong and independent, which I really admire.

Most of them are strong and independent, which I really admire.

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

There are lots of independent artists that I really look up to, like Neng Jian Ri, Yang Lu,

Just keep working on the things you love and try to go out of your comfort zone sometimes, you might discover something exciting.

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

Be brave and think big. Just keep working on the things you love and try to go out of your comfort zone sometimes, you might discover something exciting.

Photos courtesy of Qianhui Yu