Frances Castle is a North London-based illustrator and printmaker whose vintage-inspired style and bold use of colour bring stories vividly to life. From her self-published graphic novel series Stagdale to striking editorial and book covers, Frances combines digital drawing with printmaking techniques for maximum impact. Her work balances nostalgia with modern storytelling, leaping off the page with charm and personality. Whether she’s illustrating non-fiction, creating album art, or experimenting with Risograph and Gocco printing, Frances’s illustrations are full of atmosphere, character, and narrative punch.
A FINtastic New Fiction Cover Designed by Frances Castle
Cover illustration for Monster Down Deep by Amy Fellner Dominy, a thrilling California treasure hunt featuring a lost diamond necklace,...
Class Act: Frances Castle Illustrates the June 2025 Cover of Therapy Today
Frances Castle’s illustration captures the emotional weight of school anxiety ...
Stagdale Part 3 by Frances Castle
We celebrate France's latest instalment of her gripping graphic novel mystery ...
Frances Castle - New Work
With her finger firmly on the pulse of popular culture, Frances has an eye for contemporary design as well as echoes of nostalgia...
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Frances Castle
Frances Castle
From her first career in the computer game design industry Frances turned her hand to illustration in 2005. An avid collector of all things vintage she is particularly keen on old comic books and vintage children’s books from the 50’s and 60’s, this passion for all things retro can be seen influencing her work which has a wonderfully nostalgic feel.
Frances has illustrated a number of successful non-fiction titles exploring history, discovery, travel and famous historical figures. She has created her own self-published, fully illustrated graphic novel series Stagdale which weaves an enticing mystery with facts from World War II and 1970’s Great Britain. Alongside her illustration work Frances is also a musician and she founded Clay Pipe Music, a boutique record label that releases beautifully designed, limited edition vinyl records.
Frances's work appeals to a broad range of editorial, design and publishing clients. She works digitally drawing straight onto her iPad Pro and then uses scanned and pre-painted textures to add depth and colour to her work. She enjoys experimenting with printmaking, particularly Gocco and Risograph printing.
Frances is based in North London and can be found on Instagram and Twitter, or on her allotment.
Contact details
31 Eleanor Road,
London,
E15 4AB,
United Kingdom
020 8555 9827
info@arenaillustration.comFrances Castle
From her first career in the computer game design industry Frances turned her hand to illustration in 2005. An avid collector of all things vintage she is particularly keen on old comic books and vintage children’s books from the 50’s and 60’s, this passion for all things retro can be seen influencing her work which has a wonderfully nostalgic feel.
Frances has illustrated a number of successful non-fiction titles exploring history, discovery, travel and famous historical figures. She has created her own self-published, fully illustrated graphic novel series Stagdale which weaves an enticing mystery with facts from World War II and 1970’s Great Britain. Alongside her illustration work Frances is also a musician and she founded Clay Pipe Music, a boutique record label that releases beautifully designed, limited edition vinyl records.
Frances's work appeals to a broad range of editorial, design and publishing clients. She works digitally drawing straight onto her iPad Pro and then uses scanned and pre-painted textures to add depth and colour to her work. She enjoys experimenting with printmaking, particularly Gocco and Risograph printing.
Frances is based in North London and can be found on Instagram and Twitter, or on her allotment.
