Graduate Spotlight: illustrator and digital nomad Molly Maine
26 September 2024
Meet Molly Maine, a BA Illustration graduate whose time studying at Falmouth and taking part in a Study Abroad trip to Japan laid the foundations for her flourishing creative career. Now working freelance, Molly spoke to us about how she balances working with clients such as Sky News, London Zoo and Harvey Nichols whilst living nomadically across over 50 countries.
Soon, Molly will be returning to Japan, for the first time since her Study Abroad venture, to be a key speaker at Asia’s largest digital nomad festival- alongside big-name speakers such as Marie Kondo. Following this, she’ll be taking her place as an Artist in Residency in the Japanese City of Kawanza.
We spoke to Molly to find out all about her journey.
Tell us about your time studying BA Illustration at Falmouth
When I started BA Illustration at Falmouth in 2005, I didn’t have a distinctive illustration style. However, I had always loved Manga, Anime, and Japanese art growing up, and loved the woodcut prints of Japanese masters like Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, and Hiroshige.
I remember during my entrance interview at Falmouth, the course leader at the time, Alan Male, mentioned that while he could clearly see the Manga influence in my work, he hoped that if I were to come to Falmouth I would explore and discover my own unique style. I took that advice to heart and experimented with different techniques, pushing the boundaries of my creative practice. The supportive environment gave me the confidence to try new mediums and focus on drawing, particularly through life drawing and location-based work. Over time, I realised that, despite my love for Manga, I was gravitating toward commercial illustration, especially in advertising and editorial.
What made you want to take part in the Study Abroad programme? Tell us more about this time and how it has impacted your career.
During my first year at Falmouth, I attended a guest lecture by Yuko Shimizu, a Japanese-American illustrator whose work I instantly fell in love with. Though inspired by Japanese culture, her illustrations were far removed from Manga, which fueled my curiosity about Japanese illustration and led me to explore it further.
When I learned that Falmouth’s Study Abroad programme included an option to study in Japan, I jumped at the opportunity. After being selected, my journey to Nagoya began. Upon arrival, everything felt completely different—almost no one at the university spoke English, so I quickly had to pick up basic Japanese. The teaching style was unlike anything I had experienced
and I initially I felt lost and overwhelmed, but being thrown into the deep end pushed me to adapt quickly, learn on my feet, and be open to new experiences. One thing that stood out was how talented and hard working everyone on my course seemed to be, with many students embracing a very clear anime style. Since I had moved away from that aesthetic, my own work suddenly stood out in contrast, and although this was daunting at first, it actually helped me begin to carve out my own artistic voice.
I found myself leaning towards simplicity and clarity in my illustrations while also embracing bolder colours and textures. I spent weekends exploring art shops, experimenting with calligraphy pens, and rummaging in the antique markets, collecting old woodblock prints.
Being in Japan also sparked a desire to document everything around me, from the man chopping octopus at the fish market, to teenagers playing in the arcades. This led to a final project: a series of illustrated postcards from Japan, capturing scenes I encountered. As I worked primarily with analogue methods, I remember sending huge parcels of artwork from Japan back to Falmouth to be marked!
This experience planted the seed for what would become a lifelong passion: combining travel with my creative practice. My time in Japan broadened my worldview and made me realise that blending travel and illustration was something I wanted to pursue throughout my career.
My time in Japan broadened my worldview and made me realise that blending travel and illustration was something I wanted to pursue throughout my career.
Can you tell us more about your time working as a freelance illustrator whilst living nomadically? How has this lifestyle impacted your creative practice?
Living and working as a digital nomad for the past eight years has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. It’s taught me how to be flexible, adapt my workflow to different environments, and find inspiration in places I never would have imagined. I usually spend a couple of months in each location before moving on, which allows me to uncover hidden gems, understand the local culture, and integrate more deeply with the community.
When I first started out, I had very little money, so I based myself in countries with a lower cost of living while I built up my freelance business. Over time, I’ve been fortunate enough to expand my horizons, and I’ve now travelled to over 50 countries. I’m a full-time freelancer with income from diverse sources, including freelance graphic design, commercial illustration, and events – for example last year I exhibited and sold my artwork at The London Illustration Fair and held a pop-up exhibition in collaboration with LUSH Cosmetics!
I also sell a series of illustrated art prints on Etsy, inspired by the countries I’ve visited. What began as a passion project has evolved into a visual diary of my travels, allowing me to share my love for these places and cultures with others who feel connected to them as well. Whether I’m working from a beach in Bali, a café in Lisbon, or a mountain village in Vietnam, I’m constantly surrounded by new cultures, landscapes, and experiences that fuel my creativity.
Travel has undoubtedly shaped my artwork, and as my freelance illustration career evolves, I’m looking to work with brands in the travel industry, including airlines, travel guides, hotels, and travel apparel brands.
What are some of your favourite freelance projects you’ve worked on?
One of my favourite projects was illustrating the cover of The Tokyoiter magazine in 2021. I created the illustration during lockdown, at a time when I was feeling trapped and missing travel, so it became a personal tribute to my love for Tokyo and Japan. After being featured as the cover for The Tokyoiter, the illustration was later turned into a limited-edition print and eventually selected to be featured in Stay Section L, a boutique hotel in Tokyo. That single illustration opened many doors—it caught the attention of several clients and publishers, who have since approached me for new commissions. It’s amazing how one piece of work can have such a ripple effect.
In 2023, I travelled back to my hometown and exhibited at The London Illustration Fair, where I was approached by a number of clients such as Sky News, London Zoo, and Harvey Nichols. This led to some exciting freelance opportunities, one of which was illustrating the menu for the Harvey Nichols Brasserie in the OXO Tower. The brief was to capture the upscale yet vibrant atmosphere of the Brasserie, alongside its stunning riverside location, which is especially magical at sunset. Using a sunset-inspired palette, I drew from the flow of the Thames and the architectural lines of the Brasserie itself.
A few months later, I was invited by the team to have lunch there and saw my illustrated menus in use. It was a special moment, reminding me of the practical beauty of illustration and how it serves a real purpose.
Each project has helped open new doors, and I’ve come to realise that you never quite know where an opportunity might lead. I have always loved the Steve Jobs quote "You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." This rings true in my career, as so many of the most significant opportunities have stemmed from unexpected places, and it's only in hindsight that the connections become clear. It’s a reminder for me to follow your gut, do what you love, and always be open to what may come next.
You’re shortly heading over to Colive Fukuoka 2024 – Asia’s largest digital nomad festival – to give a talk. What does this look like and what does it mean to you?
The event takes place in Japan this October and brings together digital nomads from around the world to cowork, collaborate, and learn about the digital nomad lifestyle. It’s a celebration of creativity, remote work, travel, and entrepreneurship – all things I’m incredibly passionate about –so I’m really excited to be a part of it! One of the other keynote speakers is Marie Kondo, the queen of minimalism, a concept most digital nomads need to grasp quite quickly if they want to live a life ‘on the road’!
My talk, ‘8 Lessons from 8 Years on the Road’, will focus on the challenges and rewards of living as a digital nomad and how this lifestyle has shaped both my personal and professional life. I’ll be sharing insights on building a sustainable freelance career while constantly moving, the importance of adaptability, and how embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected opportunities. I’ll also touch on the importance of finding balance as a female entrepreneur, especially in managing the demands of running a business while travelling, and how to maintain creativity and productivity in ever-changing environments. My talk will include practical tips for those considering the digital nomad lifestyle, as well as more personal reflections on the emotional and psychological aspects of being constantly on the move.
After Colive Fukuoka, I’ve been invited to take part in an artist residency in Kanazawa, a city known for its rich artistic heritage, especially in traditional crafts like pottery, silk, and lacquerware. During my residency, I’ll be collaborating with local businesses and artisans to create a piece of artwork inspired by my time there. The region was impacted by an earthquake earlier this year, so I will also be working with the local community to explore ways I can support and how art can help uplift local businesses as they recover.
This will be my first time returning to Japan in 17 years, since my time studying at Nagoya University, which makes this experience incredibly special for me. It feels like I’ve come full circle, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with Japan and to contribute creatively in a place that has given me so much inspiration.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your creative journey?
One thing I’d like to emphasise is the importance of following your curiosity and creative instincts, even when they lead you down unexpected or unconventional paths. My career has been anything but traditional, but each experience has added something invaluable to my work as an illustrator. Freelancing, while often scary and uncertain, offers a kind of freedom that allows you to fully follow your passions and set your own rules.
It gives you the opportunity to shape your own path, create work that interests you, and contribute something meaningful to the world.
I hope my story encourages others to embrace the unknown, take risks, and pursue the life that excites them, no matter how unconventional it may seem. After all, the dots only connect in hindsight, and every step, no matter how unpredictable, can be part of something bigger and more rewarding than you imagined.
If any Falmouth students or alumni are interested in discussing any of the topics I’ve touched on—whether it’s freelancing, digital nomadism, or illustration—I’d love to connect! You can reach me at molly@mollymainecreative.com, through my website www.mollymaineillustration.com, or on Instagram @molly.creative
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