INTERVIEW: Brighton-based artist and illustrator Yoad Shiran on books, baking, Pride and his iconic DEN Loungewear collaboration

Ladies and gentleman, theys and thems, welcome to the Brighton & Hove residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists, boundary breaking performers and a new category unlocked for 2026: Brighton & Hove based queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses.

In 2025 I decided that I wanted to create a series that goes beyond the glam with our legendary, local queer performers (and now queer owned businesses too) so we can all get to know them more because like Lady Gaga said on ARTPOP, "Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura?" so erm, why not?!

If you’re looking to put your hard earned money where your queer mouth is then I think supporting queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses is a statement of solidarity. These businesses often operate at the intersection of creativity, resilience and community, bringing fresh perspectives while navigating unique challenges. Their success strengthens our community economically and helps pave the way for future queer entrepreneurs.

This week though, we’re joined by freelance professional illustrator, YOAD SHIRAN.

Yoad Shiran is a freelance professional illustrator based in Brighton, whose main interest combines concept, narrative and publishing illustrations. Inspired by the theatre culture and nature, he enjoys working in a free hand digital environment and occasionally in traditional media such as acrylic and coloured pencils. Although most of his work is in children's publishing, he also works with individuals and gives artistic consultations, commissioned private illustrations and more. ​

If this is your first time stumbling across my centrestage series and you want to catch up on previous interviews, don't panic hun! Catch up HERE and subscribe HERE to see who else I'll be yapping with but right now, it's all eyes on Yoad so let's dive in....head first!

DALEYPOP: First things first, how's your day been so far? For our readers meeting you for the first time, can you tell us a little about yourself, how you became an illustrator and describe your work in just three words?

YOAD SHIRAN: My day so far has been great! It's Madonna's album release day, so I wish joyous festivities to those who celebrate.

DALEYPOP: Waittttt what's your favourite track on Confessions II?!

YOAD SHIRAN: To be honest, and sorry if I'm offending anyone, I'm not practicing or observing Madonna. I'm more into musicals....but I respect all religions and beliefs.

DALEYPOP: Oh I see how it is....anyway please continue telling us about yourself, how you became an illustrator and describe your work in just three words? (I had to ask about Madonna after you mentioned her soz).

YOAD SHIRAN: No worries! I'm a 38 year old gay artist and I have lived in beautiful Brighton for the past 6 years now, working as a full time illustrator for an educational British publication, in their children's books division. I've been drawing since I was two years old and doing it professionally for the last 15 years, realising this is what makes me happy. I'd describe my work as fulfilling, weird and rewarding.

DALEYPOP: Wow you've been working as a professional illustrator for quite some time now then. Was there a specific moment when you realised that this is what you want to do for a living and what did you do before?

YOAD SHIRAN: That’s right, 15 years and counting! I knew I wanted to do art for a living since I was a teenager. My school grades were okay and I majored in biotechnology but I haven't felt conventional enough to study anything further to discover my thing, or passion. I already had that, I just thought it was a hobby. Over the years I've been a lot. I was a clerk at a pet shop, reservation agent in a hotel, PA in a music label….all these jobs that reflected my qualities but not as just who I am. I think that every time I decided to quit a job I was an underlayer of “cuz that's not what I want to be doing”.

I always wished I'd be that person who does art for a living. I got to Brighton and a few months afterwards I got accepted to my dream job, doing children's books.

DALEYPOP: Was there a book, artist or childhood obsession that first sparked your love of drawing and storytelling?

YOAD SHIRAN: Oh gosh, a lot! I love animals, especially birds and marine life, and drew them endlessly. I watch National Geographic and read encyclopedias and drew the wildlife I saw there. That was me at 5. Then I discovered witches and fantasy realms shortly after, which is where my inspiration from till this day. There's plenty of children's books I read as a kid, more than 50 times and the illustrations stuck with me since. That's the power of a good book.

DALEYPOP: Are there any children's books you've illustrated that hold a special place in your heart?

YOAD SHIRAN: There's few of them, all have their own place. The first one that I've done, which looks horrible to me now. The first one I did with a UK publisher, which is also….yeah....I say horrible because I judge myself harshly, they are the loveliest read you'll have and are really cute but I love seeing how far I've gotten since. And of course the ones I'm doing now. I'm grateful to have a book to wake up to and to work on.

DALEYPOP: As an illustrator for a UK educational publisher with worldwide distribution, what does a typical day in your studio look like?

YOAD SHIRAN: I work from my modest house. I wake up, shower, make myself coffee and sit by my computer. The company is in Sheffield, never been there and only met a few people in real life. By now I have a few books I illustrate simultaneously so I get to be in charge of my schedule with my supervisor's guidance. Drawing by request is about self discipline, inner peace and determination. I start right away and can go into a work mode for hours. I think that people would be surprised to learn that artists trained their bodies for long hours of sitting for work without breaks, either sitting or standing, not consciously, just by force of habit.

Thank god my husband calls me to remind me to drink, stretch and take a break.

I work 9-5, sometimes attend team meetings, but overall sit by my computer with my trusty drawing tablet, put a movie in the background, and be in my own world.

DALEYPOP: That doesn't sound too bad at all! What are some of the biggest challenges illustrators face today?

YOAD SHIRAN: I think that the market is overflowing with people who up until recently haven't invested themselves enough in the craft, demoting it, and using AI to reach potential markets to get rich easily. If up until 3 years ago you needed me to make you a cute family portrait, you could do it today by yourself. It's our world now, I learned to accept that.

AI gives and it takes away.

It's the people who do not have respect for art that offers to make you a book, a new living room picture or whatnot, that throw themselves into pools they otherwise wouldn't have dipped in, nor really care about.

DALEYPOP: What do you enjoy most about collaborating independently with authors, including first time writers?

YOAD SHIRAN: In my workplace, I work with an experienced team of writers, designers, editors and other illustrators. We know each other and our communication goes beyond talking. Each trusts each other's abilities, it's a family made of colleagues. I love that. Independently, it's the excitement of the first timers that I love and it's the fuel for the project. It's their baby and I'm here to deliver, making sure it's what they dreamt about. I'm not a fan of “pancake children". If I'm illustrating your book, you best believe that book would someday be an astronaut.

DALEYPOP: How do you build trust and a creative partnership with writers you've never worked with before?

YOAD SHIRAN: It's very easy, a stranger picking me out of the crowd, paying me and trusting me to help them with their book....I am immediately thankful for them choosing me. I return the trust right then and there, involving them and showing how fun it is to create art. More than once I need to guide them to express correctly what they envision for their book, making sure they know to word it out and work together. I’ll never let them feel they don’t know better because it’s not about that at all. For me it is being the extension of their arms so I can draw exactly what they want as they don’t have that ability. This form of trust is the easiest because both sides choose one another.

DALEYPOP: How do you stay creative during demanding projects or tight deadlines?

YOAD SHIRAN: Firstly, I never say yes unless I know for sure it's doable. My publisher hired the most sensitive, hard working people I worked with and they make sure I'll never feel stressed or burnt out. With that, I bring 15+ years of experience in professional art and other work experience and life lessons that taught me to handle pressure in a healthy way.

I don’t look at goals with fear, but as achievements.

DALEYPOP: What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators hoping to break into children's publishing too?

YOAD SHIRAN: I'm not big enough to give advice, but for me there was no “okay let's do this” moment. I just threw myself into the world, bombarded it with my art and submitted myself to jobs I believed I could do. I made sure people would know I'm an artist and that I love doing what I'm doing. If I could do it, then you certainly can. If you'd knew me that would have mean more!

DALEYPOP: When you're not illustrating, you're often in the kitchen right? Do baking and illustration have more in common than people might think?

YOAD SHIRAN: I do spend some time there, yes. I think the two are creative outlets for sure, but baking is more scientific than illustration which is more intuitive.

DALEYPOP: Have your baking adventures or squirrel watching habits ever inspired your artwork?

YOAD SHIRAN: Those actually rarely appear in my work. I'm sure I'll be ready once I get a request to feature a giant 3-tier cake or a squirrel in a book, trust.

DALEYPOP: I know your collaboration with Brighton based and queer run DEN Loungewear is part of their Pride collection supporting the Terrence Higgins Trust, right?! How did it feel to be involved in a project that combined creativity with an important cause?

YOAD SHIRAN: It was definitely a highlight. I've admired DEN over the past two years since I discovered them online. Glenn (Gallagher-Scott) and Mark (Gallagher-Scott) truly created a brand Brighton should be proud of! I really hope I could collaborate with them again, the process was really fun. Having me as one of the artists they chose to work with is very special to me and for such an important cause.

The Terrence Higgins mission to end new cases by 2030 and to eliminate the stigma surrounding HIV. It’s not just LGBT issue but a human kind one, and that's humbling to help this mission.

As always, it’s the LGBT community who’s effectively gathered and taking action. We've created together 3 unique, all man made swim briefs, reflective of our gay, bear and trans communities.

The clouds motifs appear in all 3 options, and they perfectly symbolise our community. Our community is diverse, ever changing. Clouds are this in between state, they're not just solid, not just liquid, not just gas. And that mirrors how many people in the community might not fit into certain categories. They exist beyond simple labels. Clouds can form in different ways, but together, they create a whole sky. Think about how cool that is!

DALEYPOP: I love the way you explained that! Is there a particular piece from the collection that you're especially proud of and is there any stock still available to buy?!

YOAD SHIRAN: Let's start with YES, BUT HURRY because these are limited edition! Available on the DEN website HERE, those are a charity piece for THT and the way your bum and bulge would look in those worth every pound.

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We have the pride flag, bear pride and trans pride currently. All have unique hand drawn cloud illustrations, and recognisable colourations of our flags. The general pride flag is the one I am proud of the most, I think. Personally, as an artist, I don't find the flag appealing, apologies everyone! It's a rainbow pattern and very limiting! It was difficult to create something I would feel it's good enough, especially because many swim briefs have a rainbow pattern and I wanted to have DEN’s to have a saying as well as standing out. I came up with the design by chance when I was at the gym. When it came to my head I stood in the middle of the lockers, dripping sweat in my running tights, scribbling the concept in using my phone before it would disappear in the post run memory loss.

It took us about 12 different designs to reach those final 3, and some were VERY wild and fun!

DALEYPOP: How does creating artwork for fashion differ from illustrating a book or creating prints?

YOAD SHIRAN: The landscape I think changes, when it's fashion you must think of the medium the art will be used, and make it work so the end result will be usable. When you do art to be printed, you usually create a full scene but when it is a garment you want to convey the idea and emotion in a more subtle way, I find. Less obvious, more suggested. Let's say your concept is romance, when it's a book you can showcase an entire date, you tell a story and develop it across a few spreads. You build the situation. When it's a print, you choose a scene to signify the situation, a kiss or a touch….or more, I'm all for it. But when it's fashion, I personally love the suggestion. Flower patterns, warm colours, symbols like lips or a heart etc.

DALEYPOP: Have you created artwork for fashion before?!

YOAD SHIRAN: I mean I did manage to do Speedos that were influenced by pop culture, like jewelled nude Speedos inspired by underwear Carrie Bradshaw wore in Sex and The City or pieces inspired by 90’s Barbie dolls but that was me basically playing around with glue gun and a bit of sewing.

I love fashion, and I hope to explore that side more in the future.

DALEYPOP: What does Pride personally mean to you?

YOAD SHIRAN: For me Pride means feeling comfortable with who you are and how you live your life. Simply that.

DALEYPOP: Do you think art has a unique ability to start conversations and bring people together around important issues.

YOAD SHIRAN: No, not more than other stuff. I think it's a great tool to convey an idea, but you don't necessarily need it to highlight a subject to begin a discussion. People today, I find, are quite opinionated, vocal and aware of challenges and comfortable talking about issues. Art is a great way to participate when you don't have all the right words.

DALEYPOP: I know you love baking but do you have a favourite bakery in Brighton and/or Hove?! Asking for a friend....that friend is me.

YOAD SHIRAN: GAIL's Bakery, full stop. Especially the one on North Road. My husband and I have a weekly date there each weekend. We love the coffee and the pastries are delicious but the team that works and holds this place together is what makes us feel at home. I think this is something that is so special to Brighton.

DALEYPOP: Last question and super important.... Who's your crush of the day?!

YOAD SHIRAN: I have soooo many crushes. It's stupid, almost for every occasion! My husband who's my everyday crush.

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I have my gym crush, I have a guy from abroad crush, I have a Legends crush, I have Hove crush (Hi Jonathan Bailey sir) I'm really hopeless. Oh and of course the UK's finest, Henry Cavill.

DALEYPOP: Actually one more, for any aspiring authors reading this and thinking "I need this illustrator for my book!", are you currently available for commissions and how can people get in touch?

YOAD SHIRAN: I'll be happy to talk to anyone who's thinking of writing a book or actively looking for an illustrator. I see myself as quite approachable, so let’s talk! Sometimes people just want to buy a print, sometimes they ask for commission, and occasionally we have a chat about books without anything more. That’s what I’m love doing and I'm happy to help anyone who’s appreciating that. People can find me using Google (sorry not sorry for all the shirtless pics), my portfolio website www.yoadshiran.com or social media, @yoadshiranart or say hi in Legends next time you see me.