It all started when…

… I was barely mobile. Drawing and creating art has been an inherent part of my DNA for as long as I can remember. My parents used to joke that I could draw before I could walk and my mum still has my first “masterpiece" framed and on the wall - ‘Mum & Nonna, Pink Felt Tip Pen’ by Marcella Wylie, aged 2

I love to create, drawing is a form of meditation for me and my aspiration or hope at least, is that my adoration of nature and zest for colour shines through the illustrations I create. I want to bring joy to the viewer. Celebrating the extraordinary diversity of nature, its shapes and forms, as well as its bold, and sometimes unexpected colour is so important to me; Mother Nature provides endless inspiration. With this, I like to bridge the gap between surface pattern design and illustration - resulting in ornate and eye-catching pieces.

My background…

… I proudly come from a Scots Italian heritage (my name is pronounced ‘Marchella’) and firmly believe this has contributed to my love of colour and obsession with illustrating exotic worlds of animals and botanicals. I graduated in 2008 with a BDes Hons degree in Textile Design from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland and for over 12 years have run my own business. Since that time, I have been based in a quiet little Scottish village just outside the city of Glasgow and have worked for both private and corporate clients around the world.

How I work…

… My illustrations usually start life as good old-fashioned pencil on paper. Hand drawing my botanical and animal illustrations is what I am passionate about, I have drawn hundreds of different species of flora and fauna over the years. I then work in ink, watercolour, gouache, acrylic or pen and fine liners depending on what I want to create or what my client’s needs are. When commissioned to work on a piece, I work iteratively to create the exact illustration(s) needed - from sketch, to sample, to finish, with reviews conducted and revisions made every step of the way. All I ever want is for my clients to be happy, it is a collaboration after all.

Over the years, I have worked on many varied projects and commissions. No two jobs are the same, and I do love a challenge! My most requested work is for packaging, branding and events, but I am also very experienced in textile design, editorial and publishing as well as artwork for private clients.

Currently I am working on illustrations that have been commissioned for specialists in exhibition and visitor attraction sector which is a fantastic honour and such an interesting project to work on.

Who I work with…

… I have clients from all over the world, which I am incredibly grateful for. I have worked with large scale global clients, small businesses, individual private commissions, the odd celebrity, and everything in between!

The list includes; Harvey Nichols, The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Baileys, NHS, Crossbill Gin, The Royal British Legion, Mantra Lingua Books, John Lewis, Wild In Art, Prima Magazine and currently a world heritage site (stay tuned for more details).

I am affiliated with the Mont Marte Makers and Creators Program, invited to share and teach from my experiences as a professional illustrator. It is truly lovely to be included amongst this talented group of creatives, working together in the hope of inspiring future generations of artists.

2024 has been an fantastic year so far, I have just published my first full picture children’s book ‘Walking In My City, What Do You See?’ with award winning bilingual publishers Mantra Lingua.

My illustrations are also available to license, please reach out to enquire.

I am a proud member of The Scottish Artists Union, The Association of Illustrators, Illustrators For Hire and They Draw and my profiles can be found here:

Want to Know More?

My blog with some behind the scenes in the studio and how I work can be found here:

Frequently asked questions…

…Have a question that hasn’t been covered here? No problem, check out my FAQs below and if you still have an unasked enquiry then please do not hesitate to reach out…

Still have an unanswered question, please do not hesitate to reach out…

Testimonials…

‘My heartfelt thanks to Marcella for her professionalism and swift responses throughout our collaboration. It has been great working with her.’ MISHTI CHATTERJI, MANTRA LINGUA

‘Marcella’s fascinating, intricate and vibrant illustrations have allowed us to expand our range of gifting fudge tins, with designs that appeal to all ages. Her creativity and talent is outstanding, which is demonstrated in her truly unique designs. These have been greatly received by our customers both at home and all over the world. We look forward to future projects with Marcella.’ TOM GARDINER, GARDINERS OF SCOTLAND

‘Offshoot approached Marcella to work with us on the rebrand and packaging designs for a Scottish soft fruit drink supplier. We were looking for a local illustrator who could provide a bespoke, fruity set of assets to sit at the core of the brand. The client had seen Marcella's work and was keen for her to be involved. From the outset Marcella was accommodating and listened to what we were looking for, helpfully interjecting with her own creative thoughts for consideration. We had a good idea of how we wanted the packaging to look and Marcella nailed it first time, providing a series of illustrations that were married together and used across a number of SKUs. Both Offshoot and the client were delighted with the results. The service Marcella provided was friendly, flexible and professional.’ KENNY MACALISTER HALL, DIRECTOR OF OFFSHOOT DESIGN

“I have had the pleasure of working with Marcella on several scarf projects. We collaborated remotely as I found her work online and I am located in the USA. Besides a talented artist, Marcella is professional and precise. She listened very carefully to what I was seeking and made the back and forth process so relaxed and easy. She is prompt and attentive and genuinely enjoys the creative process and gives her undivided attention to any project. She was as invested and excited by the outcome as I was. I look forward to working with her again in the future.” ANNE LIEDTKA, DIRECTOR OF ARCHIVIE

"Marcella worked closely with our charity to design a range of beautiful greetings cards to supplement our existing collection. Her bright vibrant designs really added a touch of glamour to our offering, and were well received by our customers. Marcella is fantastic to work with. She's smart and knows her stuff. Marcella brings to the party knowledge and experience, enthusiasm and tons of creativity. Highly recommend working with her. Five big massive stars.” SAM EASTON ILLUSTRATION LICENSING AT CHEST HEART STROKE SCOTLAND