A place-based illustration project highlighting the challenges and overlooked potential of Kensington.
Leveling Up Kensington is a three-part editorial illustration series responding to the social and visual landscape of Kensington, Liverpool - a neighbourhood often reduced to headlines about crime, drug use, and deprivation. The project challenges these one-dimensional portrayals, highlighting instead the overlooked strength, history, and potential of the local community.
Having grown up in the area, I’ve seen firsthand how years of underinvestment and unchecked development have shaped the environment and impacted the lives of residents. Through illustration, I set out to document the everyday realities of Kensington while advocating for a more nuanced and compassionate narrative, one that recognises both the struggles and the spirit of the people who call it home.
The series was designed to sit within an editorial context, using expressive linework, restrained colour palettes, and layered compositions to evoke both tension and resilience. It acts as a visual plea to local officials and urban planners: Kensington, like many underserved communities, is worthy of care, attention, and meaningful investment.`
