The differences between Eastern and Western cultures are at the heart of Leah Han’s dreamlike artworks. Originally from the Chinese city of Chengdu, the illustrator moved to Berlin in 2023 in order to broaden her practice, and is now based between her two homes.

“Chengdu and Berlin are so different, yet each feeds a distinct part of me – and both are clearly reflected in my work. Chengdu’s laid-back pace, its sunny tea-drinking afternoons, the subtle emotion of its people – these shaped the emotional and fluid quality of my lines. But when I’m in Berlin, something else wakes up in me. Berlin feels dynamic, bold and sharp,” she says.

“So right now, I’m in the middle of this fascinating conversation between softness and strength, emotion and clarity, tradition and experimentation. As much as I still love my roots in Chengdu, I find a new part of myself unfolding every time I’m in Berlin.”

Now represented by London-based agency Making Pictures, Han has carved out a distinct style combining poetic Chinese aesthetics with vibrant colours and dreamlike depictions of modern femininity. While she’s always been drawn to creativity, the illustrator has had a varied career background, having originally graduated in fashion design and run an art studio for nearly ten years where she worked with students and young children.

During that period, the illustrator says she began to feel a strong pull back to hand-drawing and watercolours. “One day I stumbled upon an illustrator’s work – she was drawing flowers in such a beautiful way that it instantly reminded me of the pure joy I used to feel when drawing for myself. That was the starting point. I began drawing every evening after work, mostly flowers and plants, and gradually my own watercolour illustration style formed.”

In 2021, Han made the decision to focus on illustration full-time. “Running the art studio had also become more and more about business: managing finances, keeping things running and maintaining stability. But deep down, what gave me real joy was the pure experience of drawing alongside my students, especially children, and sharing that creative energy,” she says.

“I even created a brand-new social media account to document the journey of exploring a new style from scratch – step by step, with no shortcuts. It felt like a reset, a return to the heart of why I draw: not just to make things beautiful, but to connect, to express and to grow.”

Since then, she’s worked on commissions for a range of lifestyle brands and publications including the LA Times, as well as designing lifestyle products such as scarves, posters and tableware. Alongside her commercial work, personal projects are increasingly vital to her practice. “They serve as a form of self-reflection and experimentation, allowing me to continuously explore and refine my artistic language and style,” says the illustrator.

“I see personal work as a kind of daily creative training. Creativity isn’t only about technical skill; it’s also a way of thinking. So I treat personal projects as a space to exercise my mind – to explore ideas, connect information, and challenge myself to think differently. It keeps my creative instincts sharp, nourishes my growth and helps me stay aligned with who I truly am as an artist.”

Having carved out a successful career herself, Han has two key pieces of advice to any budding illustrators, the first being to find your niche. “In the beginning, I created work across many styles and industries, which left me feeling scattered. It wasn’t until I focused on what truly resonated with me – feminine energy, lifestyle, wellbeing, emotional storytelling – that I found clarity. These subjects are close to who I am, so they naturally shaped my artistic voice. When you create from a place of alignment, your work starts to speak directly to the right audience.”

Her second piece of advice centres on the importance of resilience. “As an illustrator, it’s easy to look outward for validation – whether from clients, social media, or public response. But those sources are often unpredictable. Sometimes you won’t receive replies, or engagement might not reflect the quality of your work. This doesn’t mean your art isn’t worthy. I learned to stay grounded in my own belief, to trust that as long as I’m creating from an honest place, I’m on the right path.”

@leah.hanhan