Riley Samels explodes on Social Media with Punch the Monkey illustration

“I fear I have fallen for a certain internet monkey” - @bugboyriley

Oh Riley, I fear the whole Bright team has too!

Riley is an illustrator who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Kent State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications and Design. He has since traveled across the country from coast to coast working for various studios as an Illustrator in both the children’s book and greeting card industries. Riley’s work is fueled by his friends and family he has found in the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as his wide array of other passions including the wildlife around him, and good food. In his free time, you’ll probably find Riley tending to his indoor jungle or cooking up something in the kitchen.

To see Riley’s viral post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU_amZioMRx/?img_index=1

You can view Riley’s portfolio on the Bright Website. Click here: https://thebrightagency.com/uk/licensing/artists/riley-samels

Luca Grassi for Elle Decoration

From Bright's Design & Advertising Division, Luca Grassi's (@lucagrassi_illustration) collaboration with Elle Decorationaccompanies an article by Esther Walker.

Luca is an award-winning illustrator from beautiful Urbino, now living and working in Torino. Luca’s rich artwork style utilises contrast and colour to create emotive characters and narrative scenes.

You can view Luca's portfolio on the Bright Website. Click here: https://thebrightagency.com/uk/design-and-advertising/artists/luca-grassi

Mark Long – 12 Adventure Honeymoons for Easy Jet Magazine .

Mark jumped at the occasion to work with Easy Jet again on their in flight magazine. The article being 12 Adventure Honeymoons. The brief was to adorn the pages with activities honeymooners can get up to in various locations served by Easy Jet, from snorkelling to island hopping in Croatia.

Mark Long is represented by NB Illustration

Chris Coady teams up with author Tara Basi for another two titles.

Chris Coady has illustrated 10 books now for the science fiction author Tara Basi. The latest is called Regression with a new book on its way in 2026 called YOU.

'Tara Basi is known for her surreal and strange novels, such as Seven at Two Past Five, her science fiction works, including The Orb, Regression, and the Blocks trilogy, as well as her short-story collections, which include Frank and The Mission. She is also known for her humour, highlighted in the novels Masterminders and Unipolar.' Source Tara Basi website. https://www.sevenattwopastfive.com/fiction-books

Chris Coady is represented by NB Illustration

COSMIC KICKS AND ALIEN TRICKS FROM ALEKSEI

Aleksei Bitskoff blasts onto bookshelves with an uproarious cover for The Galaxy World Cup, a galactic football adventure where underdogs meet aliens and chaos reigns.

Get your boots on and prepare for take-off! Alan Joyce’s The Galaxy World Cup lands courtesy of Chicken House Books with a brilliantly bonkers cover illustration by Aleksei Bitskoff that perfectly captures the madness, humour and interstellar action inside. When a rag-tag team of schoolboys get mistaken for Earth’s greatest players and zapped into the universe’s biggest tournament, Aleksei’s character-rich visuals bring every extraterrestrial oddball and unlikely goal scorer to life - on and off the pitch.

Known for his finely observed line work, imaginative worlds and instinctive sense of comedy, Aleksei’s cover doesn’t just sell the story - it sells the fun. From weird alien spectators to snap-shot moments that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from the game, his art effortlessly invites readers aged 7–11 (and anyone who knows the agony and ecstasy of a last-minute goal) to dive in.

Aleksei Bitskoff is represented by Arena Illustration.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BILLY PARTRIDGE

Award-winning creator Billy Partridge welcomes you to Kookaway Island and the potion-making prodigy… Eggboy! Set in a surreal world brimming with humour, magic and friendship.

This month we spotlight Billy’s gloriously offbeat animated series idea Eggboy, a delightfully bonkers world full of eccentric personalities and cinematic storytelling ready to leap onto a screen. His knack for character-led visual invention runs like a thread through everything he does, from immersive publishing projects to animation development.

An award-winning graduate of Leeds Arts University and winner of the prestigious Society of Artists’ Agents Award for New Talent at the World Illustration Awards, Billy first turned heads with his debut graphic novel Hupo and the Wonder Thief, published by Flying Eye Books. Inspired by nature, folklore and the playfulness of cartoons and Studio Ghibli, his work blends humour, magic and heart in ways that keep audiences coming back for more.

Billy Partridge is represented by Arena Illustration.

DC Helping to Fuel Team GB

Darling Clementine worked on a range of special promo packs for Quaker Oats, helping to fuel Team GB for this year’s Winter Olympics!

There were a multitude of different pack fronts, showcasing the different sports competing at the games. The packs were part of a promotional give away with the chance to win prizes including tickets to see the athletes in action in Milano Cortina!

Going for Gold!

James Weston Lewis produced 5 different and dynamic covers for the Radio Times Winter Olympics Guides. We love seeing how James brought these daring and fast paced sports to life through his illustration style. He perfectly captured the beautiful scenery, the athletes and the essence of each sport in the 5 individual covers.

James Weston Lewis is represented by The Artworks

Carolina Rodriguez Fuenmayor for Quarto Books

Hao Hao – HarperCollins

From breakfast to bedtime, Hao Hao’s art makes chemistry feel familiar and fun.