Hi there!
My name is William Exley and I am a freelance illustrator specialising in narrative illustration. For over 19 years I have illustrated comic books, graphic novels, children’s books and interactive games for publishers such as NoBrow, What On Earth and Wizards of the Coast. Working both with my own written material as well as with writers and researchers to interpret their stories into graphic narratives. Alongside this I have worked in editorial illustration and developed visual identities for independent businesses across the UK, have had work exhibited nationally as well as run workshops and live art events for the public. I currently serve as a Unit Leader and Unit Tutor for Arts University Bournemouth’s online MA Illustration, where I lead the 'Sequence and Narrative' unit and mentor postgraduate students in developing advanced visual storytelling and research-led practices.
My life and illustration work has been intertwined with video games since a young age - through early home computing and the Amiga 500 to the early console years of the Master System, SNES, N64 - which I too quickly traded in for a Playstation - and Dreamcast. I frequently find my self drawing from character and environment designs of classic videogames, along with trying to integrate their graphic design and narrative features into my illustration and comics work.
William Exley
Selected Publications
2023 - Lost In Cult - “A Handheld History” and “The Console Chronicles” - Editorial and narrative illustrations
2019 - “North America: A Fold-Out Graphic History” - Written by Sarah Albee, published by What on Earth Publishing, ISBN 1999967925 - Illustrated timeline
2017 - 2018 - “Explorer” Series - Written by Nick Forshaw, published by What on Earth Publishing, ISBN 0995576610, 0995576610, 0995576629, - Illustrated timelines and fully illustrated adventure pack exploring the natural world of Mammals, Plants and Bugs for kids 7+
2017 - “A Castle In England” - Written by Jamie Rhodes, published by NoBrow Press Ltd, ISBN 191062019X - A collaboration between writer Jamie Rhodes, National Trust and NoBrow artists - cover design and illustrated the story “The Smuggler”
2015 - “Golemchik” - Published by NoBrow Press Ltd, ISBN 1907704795 - I wrote, developed and illustrated this as part of NoBrow’s 17 x 23 series
Selected Workshops
2015 - Unbound - Edinburgh Book Fair - Represented NoBrow at the Edinburgh Book Fair, and with other artists designed, developed and delivered an interactive live drawing and comics making workshop for visitors to the fair to participate in
2007 - 2010 - Art Is Proof Print Collective - Public printmaking, exhibitions and art workshops (various) for participants of various ages including HE/PostGrad students
Selected Work
2022 - Wizards of The Coast - Before The Storm: A Dungeons & Dragons digital choose your own adventure game - Worked with design agency Yrs Truly and digital developers Eight Arms to design and illustrate a browser based choose your own adventure game as an introduction to D&D
2021 - Wizards of The Coast - Social choose your own adventure - Worked with design agency Yrs Truly to design and illustrate a unique choose your own adventure game
2020 - 2023 - What On Earth Education - Illustrations for educational materials for activity packs distributed to primary schools during lockdown and beyond
2017 - Ongoing - Cultplex, Manchester - Branding and design work for Manchester based independent cinema Cultplex - creation of digital promotional material, designed to be updated by staff, creation of marketing materials for events and event merchandise for special events
Selected Exhibitions
2025 - PAC Showcase, Isabella’s, Sheffield
2022 - BLOOM Exhibition - Colors Hoxton, London
2019 - Into The Wild Exhibition - Printspace Gallery, London
2015 - Underneath - Orbital Comics, London
2014 - Skull & Heart Presents The Colour Series Exhibition - Brick Lane Gallery, London - group show & live drawing
2014 - Skull & Heart x BoxPark Exhibition - BoxPark Shoreditch, London - group show & live drawing
Lost In Cult
〰️
Lost In Cult 〰️
Editorial illustrations for Lost In Cult’s books The Console Chronicles (2024) and A Handheld History (2023)
Little Guys
〰️
Little Guys 〰️
A2 prints made for an agency showcase exhibition at Isabella’s, Kelham Island
Power Up Prints
〰️
Power Up Prints 〰️
A5 Prints made to sell at Sheffield Comics & Art Fair later this year. Inspired by playing through the original NES Mario game with my daughter
Cultplex Posters
〰️
Cultplex Posters 〰️
Illustrations for Manchester independent cinema Cultplex’s House of Cage, House of Clint, House of Kaiju and House of Keanu movie all dayers
Selected Portfolio
〰️
Selected Portfolio 〰️
