About me

Short Bio

iella (Daniela Attard, she/her) 

London-based Maltese visual artist, illustrator, and multidisciplinary media creative working full time in the animation and film industry (currently Warner Brothers). Developing drawing skills after playing online games, she eventually ventured into street art and life drawing sessions which helped develop a distinctive illustrative visual style.
Wanting to seek international training and opportunities, she moved to London, UK in 2012 after completing a BA in art history from the University of Malta. After focusing on developing a career in illustration during her first few years in London, she is now focused on her long-term artistic goals, having her first solo exhibition at Hoxton 253 in 2021.
Iella’s work is influenced by 90s animation, video games and nature. Most of her work is figurative and illustrative, often exploring themes of fantasy, climate change, existentialism and personal experiences. She is an avid sketchbook keeper and life drawing enthusiast.
Looking for

looking for collaboration or group shows
Other Roles Digital Artist, Fine Artist, Street Artist, Painter
Represented by ‎Malta Community of Illustrators‎
Skills Animation Communications Drawing Figurative Painting

Education

Education History

BA Hons Art History (UOM) 2011
Diploma in art&design (Mcast) 2012
MA Communication design (Illustration) – Kingston university graduated 2013

Experience

Exhibitions

Solo

EVERYDAY PEOPLE, April 2023, Christine X Art Gallery, Sliema, Malta
DYING PLANET, 2022, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, Malta
Take me home part 3, 2022, Solo exhibition, M2 Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Take me home part 2, 2021, Solo exhibition, Desko, Valletta, Malta
Take me home part 1, 2021, Solo exhibition, Hoxton 253 Art Project Space, London, UK

Group

Royal Society of British Artists (RBSA) annual exhibition, 2024, Group Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
Gegwigija 7.0, 2023, Group Exhibition, Rosa Kwir, Malta.
From Illustration to Book, Malta book fair, 2023, Group Exhibition, MFCC, Malta.
WOM Collective: WOM INSPIRED 23, Group exhibition, Penge East outdoor gallery, London, UK
The Affordable Art Fair London – Spring 2023 edition, Art Fair, Under Christine X Curated, London, UK
The Nude ’21, 2021, Group exhibition, Candid arts trust, London, UK
Artna (Our Land) 2020, Group exhibition, Online
Larger than Life! 2020, Group exhibition, Desko, Valletta
Selfie 2014, Studio 104, Group exhibition, Valletta
Strange People Illustration Show, 2014, FZ FIFTEEN, Taipei,Taiwan
Kingston University illustration MA group show 2013, London, UK
Flow 2012, FLOW Showroom launch at: FLOW, Lija, Malta

 
Achievements

Press (external links)Times of Malta – Barf bag art 2023Times of Malta – EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023Independent – EVERYDAY PEOPLE 2023Times of Malta – Affordable Art Fair London 2023Interview with Malta Community of Illustrators 2022Times of Malta – DYING PLANET 2022Spazju Kreattiv – DYING PLANET 2022SBS Australia (Maltese) interview – Take me home part 3 2022Lovin Malta – Sydney visit and Take me Home part 3 2022Take me home: exhibition review by Ramona Depares from 2021Lovinmalta feature, 2021Times of Malta: Artna online exhibition 2020Larger than Life! Group show press, 2019Gadgetsmalta Interview, 2018Time of Malta: Interview from 2017Indulge.com.mt interview from 2016Lovinmalta feature, 2016Time of Malta: Comicon interview from 2015Maltatoday article: Work update from 2015TVM video interview from comicon 2015Interview with photojournalist Joanna Demarco in 2014Maltatoday article: Crowdfunding my first project, 2013Archetype newspaper interview from 2012
Work

Designer and Illustrator – Cartoon Network/Warner Brothers (European branch) 2014 – August 2023
Freelance designer, illustrator and visual artist 2012 – present
Residencies

Art residencies

BigCi – Bilpin International ground for creative initiatives, Artist in residence July 2023, regional Sydney, NSW, Australia

Prizes and Grants

Arts Council Malta, 2023, Project support grant for ‘MIGRATION NATION’
Arts Council Malta, 2023, Training grant for ‘Royal drawing School, Autumn Intensive’
Arts Council Malta, 2020, Project support grant for ‘Take me Home’