When establishing style as an illustrator, the use of recurring characters, even if they develop over time, can help anchor an image and provide consistency, especially if the subjects being tackled are varied. It’s what Romanian illustrator Irina Selaru has found and the result is she’s created something distinctive to her. Her work is colourful, rich in texture and laced with humour, but it’s also highly influenced by personal experiences.

“I often draw myself as the main character,” she tells CR. “It might not always be obvious, as I’m not always drawing myself in the exact same way and my characters tend to look similar.”