I’m Zhuoying Gu, a Chinese illustrator whose practice focuses on observing and recording places through drawing. I have a particular interest in architecture, landscapes and local culture.

Working primarily with ink, watercolour and coloured pencils, I create illustrations inspired by architecture, landscapes and everyday environments. Through observational drawing, I aim to capture not only the appearance of a place but also its atmosphere, character and cultural identity.

My recent work includes illustrations inspired by the Jiangnan Classical Gardens, a travel book documenting two journeys through Yunnan Province, as well as observational drawings of Bournemouth, Oxford and museum interiors. Although these works depict different locations, they are connected by a shared interest in exploring how architecture, landscapes and cultural details shape our experience of place.

Through my work, I hope to encourage viewers to slow down, observe more carefully and discover the unique character of the places around them.

After my degree, I plan to continue developing my illustration practice. I hope to keep exploring places through observational drawing while building a career as an illustrator.