Kardashians and JLo among Galway artist’s fans

A digital artist in Galway has won the admiration of the Kardashian clan as well as the likes of JLo for her unique style of illustration shared over social media.

Since discovering digital art a year ago, Ellen McCann has used it as a way of dealing with bouts of anxiety which have plagued her since her college days.

Back then she was an art and design student in GMIT’s Cluain Mhuire campus for three years and the experience almost put her off art forever, she reflects.

“I just dropped out for personal reasons – Dad’s illness, I wasn’t in the best mind frame, but it’s only now I look back and think maybe that course wasn’t for me,” says Ellen, who is known to family and friends as Nelle, the name she has adopted for her art. 

“My style wasn’t encouraged – it was only a one-way street there. College told me what to do and it just wasn’t me.”

She left to take up a part-time job but found herself fed up and without any hobbies.

One night she decided to check out the social media site Instagram and discovered the world of digital art. Suddenly everything changed overnight.

“It’s like it flicked a switch inside me. It gave me a new energy. I decided to give it a go. It started off slow. You have to work hard at it. The first week I had an illustration of [supermodel and wife of singer John Legend] Chrissy Teigen and almost straight away she ‘liked’ me on Twitter.”

Soon her pieces were shared over the internet and she developed quite a fan following.

Her fascination with the Kardashians is evident in her Instagram portfolio – again and again Nelle has illustrated the buxom siblings, including one of a nude Kim, which earned a ‘like’ from the global celebrity, who shared the image with her staggering 40 million followers.

Images of sister Chloe and mother Kris Kenner have also earned the approval of the family who live their lives out over social media and before the cameras on their reality TV show. Another sister Khloe tweeted on one image: “@NELLE1717 Amazing!!!”

“You can’t help but get sucked into the Kardashian world; you can’t really miss them. I’ve always been drawn to feminine images and I love fashion and beauty. I’m very into feminine empowerment, I think they’re strong figures.

“I know not everything they’ve done in the past is the best, but they’ve created quite a business.”

Two of Ellen McCann’s digital images.

The fashion designer to the stars Michael Costello ‘liked’ a few of her illustrations. Then one night he asked if she would create an illustration of his celebrity client, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. She excitedly obliged, immediately working long into the night and the following day.

The designer added the design to his Instagram page and suddenly she had thousands of views. JLo herself also tagged the piece on her own page.

“It was such a boost. You get highs and lows doing this. I spend 80 hours every week just drawing. Sometimes people think you have to just press a button and the work happens. But a piece can take eight to ten hours. When people recognise your hard work, it makes it worth it.”

Translating all that labour into rent money has proven more difficult.

She has been asked to do a number of portraits but for now the 26-year-old native of Moate, Co Westmeath will continue to build up her portfolio, hone her artistic style and hope to get commissions in the fashion and beauty world.

For a regular crust, she works as a graphic designer and social media manager for the Galway-based web design and business training company, Spoogle.ie.

“Sometimes when I say out loud that I work 80 hours a week at this I think what the hell am I doing? But it helps my mind, it puts me at ease. It’s a form of therapy, it’s an escape. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it.”

Nelle’s illustrations can be seen on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and also Pinterest.

Her website has also just been launched.