Charming Flights of Fancy Fill Vanessa Gillings’ Imaginative Illustrations

For fans of cozy cottages, sipping tea with a good book, exploring misty woodlands, and relishing timeless folk- and fairytales, the illustrations of Vanessa Gillings tap into a sense of comfort and wonder. Her protagonists, often donning witchy or wizard-like hats, appear to be on marvelous and mysterious journeys, sometimes accompanied by ravens, foxes, or butterflies as they explore forests, pen stories, or attempt to cast spells.

The works shown here formed part of the artist’s recent solo exhibition, Into the Woods, with Gallery Nucleus. See more on Gillings’ website and Instagram.

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a young boy with a pointy hat on, holding a stick-like wand and transforming paper into birds — “Making Friends” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 9 x 11 3/4 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a white dragon in a forest, greeting a much smaller pair of people — “The Forest Guardian” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 19 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a young woman seated by a large tree, wearing a pointy hat and looking at a blue butterfly — “Waiting for Inspiration” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a young woman with a feathery cape on, floating above a rock pinnacle and greeting a raven — “Constant Companion” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 9 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a fox with a twig in its mouth, standing on top of a grassy, rocky outcrop in a wood — “Ferdinand” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 7 1/4 x 9 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a young woman with a black feathered cape, standing in front of standing stones and greeting a trio of ravens — “Homeward” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 9 1/2 x 14 3/4 inches

a watercolor illustration by Vanessa Gillings of a bearded wizard next to a huge old tree, greeting a group of white birds — “Memories” (2025), watercolor and gouache, 18 x 6 3/4 inches

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