Working in various mediums, the French artist and illustrator Delphine Lebourgeois draws inspiration from a range of stylistic sources. By combining both contemporary and classical, and mixing symbols and cultural references in a playful and sometimes irreverent way, there is a duality in her drawings. Lebourgeois’ multidisciplinary approach during the creative and developmental process reveal the depth of meaning in her illustrations, which on the surface present a sense of fun, play and sexuality.

By exhibiting Lebourgeois’ working drawings, Prélude will allow viewers to examine her practise, in which she uses line drawings as a form of enquiry to explore her initial ideas. Through her experimentation, Lebourgeois successfully infuses her sense of self and her understanding of feminine strength and beauty. The exhibition begins at Jealous North on Wednesday 30th January and runs until Sunday 17th February.

Delphine Lebourgeois studied Fine Art in Lyon then went on to complete a Masters in Illustration at Central St Martins in 2005. Lebourgeois works in various mediums including digital, collage, pencil, pen, ink, watercolour and screenprint but her working process always starts with an initial collage of found elements. Her most recent work draws from various stylistic sources (ranging from Bocelli to comics) mixing symbols and cultural references in a playful and sometimes irreverent way. In 2014, Lebourgeois created a whole series of original drawings on the power of crowds “The Girl has a Gun” that was launched at the Other Art Fair in October 2014: "My aim is to tell stories via precise scenarios that explore the realm of power relations whilst questioning Illustrative and Fine Art traditions" Her latest collections "Heroes and Villains" and "Funny Games" delve deeper into the theme and question the part society plays towards its youth. They look into the fragility of innocence, the need for protection, and how young people in their desperate search to belong can sometime turn to an extreme form of comfort. Through varied scenarios reminiscent of childhood' games, Lebourgeois tells stories about vulnerability and disillusion, but also – like an antidote - rebellion and empowerment.