MEGAN MORGAN: LIFE AS A FASHION ILLUSTRATOR

Megan Morgan caught in action at the Longchamp X Vogue in November 2014.

In her second year at university, Megan’s career as a fashion illustrator is kicking off, she illustrated live for Paul Smith’s footwear collection in autumn 2015. She tells us quite literally how she “popped out of nowhere.”

Megan Claire Morgan is a British born Fashion Illustrator, raised in Leeds. Inspired by her art teacher at high school and at the age of just 16, earned herself a place on a foundation course at London College of Fashion. Her father who also started university at this age; it’s in the Morgan genes to two years ahead of the game. Megan now specialises in live illustration for events and is continuing her work with affiliations including Paul Smith, Coggles and Joseph, on a freelance basis.

When Megan moved to London she never imagined having a career in illustration, despite it being her favourite hobby.  “I thought I’d end up as a designer or a costume designer for theatre” she says. Growing up in an arty and music orientated family, she has always drawn and was fascinated by artwork but only really saw a few illustrators which made her think, “wow I’d love to work doing something like that.”

To see more of Megan's work visit her website, mrscmillustration.com.
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“Things started to get going after my first show as a live illustrator, which seems weird and I’m incredibly lucky” she says. After being picked up by the team at Fashion Scout, one of the UK’s largest fashions showcases throughout London and Paris Fashion Week she featured later that day. “I loved the work I did with Paul Smith last year but PFW shows knocked everything out of the water - Anrealage and Moon Young Hee were just incredible.” After that it’s been nonstop for Megan and bigger clients have started to approach her. “I’m currently doing some private things for PR stunts and really random commissions as well as collaborating with musicians; you may have seen the live artwork I did for Roscius, a Parisian musician.” Honestly, you should check it out.

Despite the competition in fashion illustration looking low to outsiders, according to Megan it has been back on the rise over the past few years and competition is huge. “I try not to look up to specific people as I’m very easily influenced and can sometimes take too much of what I’m being inspired by so I take an intake of a lot of people” she says. Catwalk illustration isn’t as common, especially doodling at a live event. “I’ve only ever managed to meet 6 others, most who have worked in the industry doing this for up to 40 years.” So what set’s her aside? “Her willingness to make mistakes and how she embraces her natural drawing style is what sets her aside from competitors. She’s very free and experimental” says her close friend, Jeanine Kebbie.

Megan admits she did kind of “pop out of nowhere”, but it’s completely out of luck that her drawing style is different to other live illustrators. “By not being fashion I almost am fashion” she says, but mistakes do happen.  “I did massively screw up the proportions of a model, whilst sat next to two very important editors at Issey Miyake and just hoped they didn’t notice. Megan is a massive over-thinker and lives by embracing her mistakes as an aspiring catwalk illustrator.

Live illustration at the Macha MA show.

Running to catch the @wearevillage #pressday on my break at work... #dedication #fashionillustrator
— MRSCM Illustration (@MRSCMillo) March 26, 2015