Oleksandr Zinchenko
Lead Designer and Illustrator
A little about me: I was born in the Donbas region of Ukraine, in an area that is now under Russian control, but I have lived in the Kyiv region since childhood and have been based in Kyiv for the last several years.
My path into design was not completely straightforward. I studied at two universities and originally trained in biotechnology. However, I eventually realised that the interest in drawing and illustration I had had since childhood was something I wanted to take much more seriously.
After buying my first drawing tablet, I gradually began illustrating more and more, and at some point it became clear to me that this was what I truly wanted to do.
A lot of my inspiration comes from the world around me. Ukrainian culture and people inspire me greatly — music, landscapes, mountains, the sea, conversations with people, different personalities and emotions. I tend to absorb a lot from what I see and experience, and I think that naturally finds its way into my work.
Today I work across many different areas of illustration and design, including children’s books, graphic design, wall art and comics, and I also enjoy developing my own stories and book ideas.
I love creating something in which another person can recognise a feeling or a small part of themselves. With children’s illustration, my approach is a little different. I always want children to have something to explore in an image — small details to notice, characters and environments that feel alive, and illustrations that are enjoyable to look at more than once.
If you would like to work with Oleksandr please contact noddy@bedtimebackdrops.co.uk
