I’m Ele Long (@oubergine), a freelance children’s illustrator and designer based in Ireland. After years working in graphic and motion design, I decided to follow my heart and focus fully on children’s illustration. When I’m not drawing, you’ll usually find me curled up with a cup of tea, reading stories or scribbling alongside my little ones.

As a child, I was always sketching. Growing up with Dyslexia, pictures often came more easily than words, so drawing became my sanctuary. Today, my work is all about capturing the wonder and whimsy of childhood. I’m inspired by everyday moments and the natural world, always seeing the potential for a new story to unfold. With a soft spot for all things cute and cuddly, I try to bring a touch of sweetness into everything I create.

I work mainly in Procreate using pencil-style brushes, adding subtle textures for depth and detail. My process begins with pen and paper, rough thumbnails and sketches before moving to digital. While I’m fluent in Adobe Creative Suite from my design background, I don’t use it for illustration.

So far, I’ve illustrated a self-published picture book, designed greeting cards for multiple outlets, and created artwork for private commissions. Outside of art, I love swimming and over the years I’ve explored everything from judo and dance to long-distance running, rock climbing, badminton, jewellery making and playing the flute.

If my style feels like a good fit for your project, I’d love to hear from you - send me a message: ele.oubergine@gmail.com