Fashion Illustration Exhibition in London!

Blog by London Fashion Illustrator Elyse Blackshaw

Elyse Blackshaw outside the Elegance in Refusal Fashion Illustration Exhibition

London Fashion Week 2025 pulsed with creative energy this September, and I was honoured to be part of it as a London fashion illustrator. From 17th –28th September, I exhibited original artwork in “Elegance in Refusal,” a dynamic art and fashion space co-curated by Bleur Gallery and renowned fashion artist Joanna Layla.

A Gallery in the Heart of Baker Street

The show transformed 62–64 Baker Street into a large-scale art gallery and working studio, perfectly matching the rebellious spirit of the concept. The opening night on Wednesday 17th September welcomed designers, stylists, and art lovers who moved between live illustration, bold installations, and freshly unveiled London Fashion Week collections.

The Concept: Quiet Resistance in Line and Form

Elegance in Refusal London Fashion Week Exhibition

London Fashion Week Exhibition Fashion Illustrator

“Elegance in Refusal” explored the idea of refusing convention, whether through the sharpness of a pencil line, the daring sweep of a brushstroke, or the clean edge of a garment. As an illustrator, I loved how this theme mirrored the way fashion drawing for me captures fleeting movement while challenging traditional aesthetics of fashion illustration.

Sharing Space with Leading Fashion Artists

It was an honour to show alongside contemporary talents including Helen Bullock, Anjelica Roselyn, Jess Rose Bird, Robson Stannard, Poppy Waddilove, Joanna Layla, Elyse Blackshaw, Connie Lim, Dahren Davey, and Beth Fraser. Designer installations by Adrianne Weber, Tanmay Saxena, Moma Hilo, and Shriya Ranpura added a sculptural dimension to the exhibition.

Elyse showcasing the work of fellow exhibiting artists Poppy Waddilove and Helen Bullock

My London Fashion Illustration on Display

For this exhibition, I presented London Fashion Week drawings from Ashish AW25 and a variety of live sketches from Phoebe English and Balenciaga 2025. Capturing the movement and atmosphere of collections (rather than realistic representation) is the essence of my practice as a fashion illustrator in London. Exhibiting these pieces in a gallery allowed visitors to experience the immediacy of fashion drawing up close.

Visit the Exhibition

“Elegance in Refusal” runs until 28 September at Bleur Gallery, 62–64 Baker Street, London W1U 7DF. Entry is free, with opening hours 10 am–6 pm weekdays and 11 am–4 pm Saturdays.

If you’re looking for a London fashion illustrator for collaborations, editorials, or live event sketching, feel free to get in touch! Exhibiting at London Fashion Week has deepened my connection to documenting style through expressive, spontaneous line work... and I’m excited to bring that energy to new projects!

Follow along on Instagram: @bleur_art | @joannalayla | @elyseblackshaw