Amy Jackson is a freelance artist and illustrator from Swansea. Specialising in a pointillism or dotwork style, her illustrations explore social and environmental themes with a twist. From logos to large murals, Amy’s surreal designs have been featured in films and magazines, including her NHS Portrait Series.
Freelance illustrator, Amy, through her shop AJ Illustration, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the Creative Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Known as “The Grammys of Entrepreneurship”, the awards celebrate the most exceptional and inspiring business stories across the UK. This year’s shortlist includes over 800 entrepreneurs from every nation and region of the UK, all recognised for their innovation, impact and resilience. Past winners include the founders of BrewDog, Grenade, ClearScore, Zilch, and Unbiased, many of whom were recognised early in their entrepreneurial journey by the
awards.
Amy Jackson, founder of AJ Illustration, said: “It’s a genuine honour to be recognised as a finalist among so many remarkable UK businesses. We’re deeply grateful for this moment and the opportunity it brings. This recognition is a huge testament to the hard work I’ve poured into AJ Illustration and my mission to create art that uplifts and challenges. As someone who grew up navigating the world through the lens of neurodivergence and selective mutism, I never imagined that one day it could lead to a creative business. To be named as a finalist is both
moving and profoundly unexpected. It’s a moment that affirms the value of authentic storytelling and the quiet impact of meaningful work.”
Amy studied an Art and Design Foundation Course at Llwyn-y-Bryn College in 2015, and attended Trinity Saint David’s University in 2016, and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration. From there, Amy has been working as a freelance illustrator and her shop, AJ Illustration.
Amy said: “I had a tough time in school as I suffer from various anxiety disorders including situational mutism. At school, I found solace in the art classroom and realized that it was something that I wanted to pursue. As my skills developed, I found that I could communicate through art when I couldn’t use words. Art became my voice.
“Having been recently diagnosed with Autism and Combined ADHD within the past few months, it’s taken some time to process what it means and what changes that might come with a formal diagnosis.
“What started as a small personal project during lockdown has grown into a recognizable brand with a loyal community, a strong creative identity, and a mission rooted in compassion, activism, and authenticity.
“It’s a moment of validation for every quiet voice trying to be heard through art. I founded AJ Illustration to turn pain into purpose, using illustration to spark conversations about identity, grief, feminism, and joy. To be acknowledged on this scale is overwhelming in the best way. I hope this news inspires others who’ve been dismissed or doubted to keep creating, keep showing up, and keep believing there’s space for them too.”
Amy says she loves exploring important topics, trying to interpret them and package the message in a way that is easier to consume or interesting to dissect, often with a twist of humour or in a tongue in cheek way. She specializes in a dotwork or pointillism style, using pen and ink to create thousands of dots that result in striking pieces.
Her picture-perfect tribute to a long-serving hospital volunteer, a part of her NHS portrait series, was heavily inspired by the pandemic.
Amy said: “This was my attempt at illuminating just a small number of staff, to celebrate all of the hard work they have done and will continue to do.
“I love wrapping heavy truths in humour and sharp linework – making big political and social topics feel approachable, less intimidating and more like something we can all laugh at, cry about, and change together.”
This is not the first award Amy has been nominated for, as she recently picked up the Illustrator of the Year award at the Wales Prestige Awards 2025/2026.
Winners of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on Monday 17 November 2025, held at London’s Grosvenor House, where over 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders will come together to celebrate entrepreneurial success.
