About Bee
An illustrator, curator, and interdisciplinary creative based in London, Bee (aka @beeIllustrates) uses their platform to share distinctive, quirky illustrations intended to educate, empower, and inform on a range of important topics. Bee's work often centres around personal narratives from their own experiences of navigating mental health issues and exploring their queer identity. Bee graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a First Class Ba (Hons) in Illustration, having also completed courses in Queer Studies, Curation and Social Anthropology. In 2022, Bee was Longlisted for the World Illustration Awards, for their piece Lovers.
In 2021, alongside photographer and activist Eliza Hatch (aka @CheerUpLuv), Bee co-founded Hysterical, a yearly group exhibition and cultural programme that takes place throughout Women's History Month. The event platforms creatives of marginalised genders reclaiming the term hysterical, and using their practices to call for change. Following their debut's massive success in 2022, they returned in 2023 with Hysterical: A Celebration of Subversive Art, an event described by the Evening Standard as 'an intimate and cathartic exploration of misogyny.'
The 2024 rendition of Hysterical was centred around Radical Creativity. Unlike in previous years, Bee & Eliza made their collaborative debut as exhibiting artists - creating a full-scale immersive bathroom installation, Vacant // Engaged - where visitors can explore intimate themes of gender identity, safety and public spaces.
Accolades
Selected as an NG200 Creator - in partnership with The National Gallery for their Bicentenary celebration programme 2024
Judge for 2023 D&AD Awards: New Blood - The Portfolios In Partnership with Editor X
Longlisted - World Illustration Awards 2022
Meta Top 10 Creators of Tomorrow 2022
Named as one of 11 LGBTQIA+ TikTok UK Trailblazers 2021
Finalist - BCreator Awards: Wellbeing Creator of the Year 2021
To discuss a project or collaboration please get in touch: bee@weshft.co
