BASED ON
"THE WAY I WAS"
A SCAREDY CAT
ADVENTURE
IM
KOLLEGENZOO
SECRET
EGG
FOOTBALL HERO
SERIES
MY LITTLE
TOWN
USELESS
THING
For a quick, shareable overview of my illustration work, download my illustrator portfolio PDF.
Published Books & Narrative Projects
My publishing work spans graphic biography, children’s books, illustrated nonfiction, cartoon collections and international anthologies. Rather than presenting these as identical portfolio items, the projects below show how the illustration changes with the audience, format and purpose of each book.
GRAPHIC NOVEL · AUTHOR / ILLUSTRATOR
MARVIN: Based on “The Way I Was”
Published by Schiffer Kids in 2020, MARVIN: Based on The Way I Was is a full-length graphic biography that I wrote and illustrated, based on the life of composer Marvin Hamlisch.
The project combined authorship and illustration: structuring biographical material, developing recurring characters, deciding what could be communicated visually rather than through exposition, and maintaining pacing and continuity across the complete book.
The result sits naturally between publishing and sequential storytelling. For more work in comics and visual narrative, see Comics, Comic Strips & Sequential Illustration.
CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING
The Secret Egg
Written by John Townsend and published by Ransom Publishing in 2019, The Secret Egg is part of the Reading Stars series for developing readers.
The illustration needed to be immediately readable and emotionally clear. The baby dragon and cat characters carry the story through expression, gesture and simple visual staging, while the clean vector treatment keeps the pages accessible for younger readers.
This is the kind of children’s publishing project where character consistency matters as much as the quality of any individual illustration: the reader needs to recognise and understand the characters instantly from page to page.
ILLUSTRATED NONFICTION
Willkommen im Kollegenzoo
Written by Markus Steinhaus and published by Droemer Knaur in 2009, Willkommen im Kollegenzoo turns recognisable office personalities into a cast of animal archetypes.
I developed the illustrated character system for the book, using exaggeration, visual shorthand and observation to make each personality immediately recognisable while ensuring that the complete cast belonged to the same visual world.
The project sits between publishing, cartooning and character development — an example of how recurring characters can structure an entire nonfiction book rather than simply decorate individual pages.
Related work can be found under Logos, Mascots & Characters.
INTERNATIONAL ILLUSTRATED ANTHOLOGY SERIES
Football Heroes
The Football Heroes series brought together international illustrators to interpret major figures from world football through portraiture, caricature and collectible graphic design.
I contributed to all three books: Football Heroes (2006), Football Heroes See Red! (2008) and Football Heroes Gold (2012). Rather than three unrelated assignments, they represent a continuing publishing collaboration developed across several editions and different generations of players.
The work combines likeness, exaggeration and character in a format that needed to remain visually distinctive while still functioning as part of a much larger international collection.
CARTOON COLLECTION
Zürich, My Little Town
Published by Nebelspalter-Verlag in 1988, Zürich, My Little Town was my first book: an 80-page collection of cartoons based on Zürich, everyday observation and local absurdities.
It belongs to an early stage of my publishing career, but already contains elements that continue through my later work: character, humour, observation and the compression of an idea into a clear visual moment.
Publication: Nebelspalter-Verlag, Rorschach · 1988 · German · Softcover · 80 pages · ISBN 978-3-85819-124-3
How I Approach Book Illustration
Book illustration requires more than strong individual images. It depends on consistency, character continuity, page-to-page rhythm and an understanding of how pictures behave alongside text.
A project may begin with a developed manuscript and detailed art direction, or at an earlier stage when characters, visual tone and narrative emphasis still need to be explored. Depending on the commission, my role can include visual research, character development, rough layouts, sample spreads, page composition, cover concepts, finished illustration and production artwork.
- Children’s books — expressive characters, clear staging, readability and warmth.
- Graphic novels — pacing, dialogue flow, panel rhythm, continuity and narrative clarity.
- Illustrated nonfiction — visual explanation, character systems, humour and structured storytelling.
- Educational publishing — accessible imagery that supports learning and comprehension.
[PLACE IMAGE HERE: one strong development example — character sketches, thumbnail layouts, rough-to-finished spread or another image that demonstrates the book-illustration process rather than finished portfolio work]
For sequential storytelling beyond publishing, see Comics, Comic Strips & Sequential Illustration. For press, magazines, learning and institutional publishing, see Editorial & Educational Illustration.
Working With Publishers & Authors
I work directly with publishers, editors, authors and art directors. Some commissions arrive with a detailed visual brief; others begin with a manuscript and a discussion about character, tone, audience and the role illustration should play.
For longer projects, establishing the visual language early is especially important. Character design, sample pages and rough layouts allow the approach to be tested before full production begins and help maintain consistency across the finished book.
My background in comics, editorial illustration, character design and creative direction is also useful when a publishing project needs visual development beyond the production of individual finished drawings.
More Book Illustration & Visual Storytelling
A broader selection of published books, covers, interior illustration, character development and narrative work.
Click any image in the gallery to enlarge
Book Illustration & Visual Storytelling | Ian David Marsden
A set of expressive spot illustrations designed for editorial or educational use — featuring construction scenes, factory floors, and a light-hearted moment where workers enjoy a Queen anthem on the radio. Perfect for training materials or workplace culture storytelling.
Whimsical black-and-white forest scene created for young readers and coloring activities — featuring a hedgehog wielding crayons among wild boars, owls, and rabbits. A lively spread ideal for activity books or environmental storytelling for children.
Illustrated in clean ligne claire style, this vibrant piece channels mid-century European comics. It features a wolf and friends adventuring in a classic orange Mehari — perfect for stories about travel, friendship, or quirky road narratives.
A playful twist on customs and arrivals — tourists land at a tropical airport only to be greeted by surreal oversized viruses and curious creatures. A humorous BD-style scene in retro atomic ligne claire style with current themes and vibrant retro energy.
A key illustration from the fantasy board game Pillage, featuring core characters — the Pirate, Spider Lady, Dona Flora, and Zephyr the Mediterranean wind — posed dramatically in front of a glowing treasure chest. A rich fusion of humor and heroism, ideal for publishing, tabletop world-building, or fantasy properties.
Lush location cards evoking the romantic spirit of Provence — featuring olive groves, churches, and stone crosses. These atmospheric background illustrations help transport players into a Mediterranean-inspired world full of mystery and history.
A bold, empowering twist on classic mythology and fairy tale — inspired by Rosie the Riveter and the legend of Excalibur, this editorial-style illustration features a defiant Little Red slaying a dragon twenty times her size. A visual anthem of strength and defiance wrapped in fairy tale form.
Created in dip pen and India ink on paper by Ian David Marsden, this symbolic black-and-white illustration explores themes of introspection, personal growth, and the spiritual journey. Tarot cards, ancient pillars, and celestial symbols guide a lone pilgrim as he ascends a winding path toward a distant tower. A strong piece for educational, reflective, or allegorical book projects.
This vibrant colored version of “The Path” by Ian David Marsden brings a modern, luminous touch to a timeless metaphor. Using digital watercolor techniques, the scene becomes dreamlike and layered — perfect for narrative publishing, spiritual storytelling, and children’s books exploring inner discovery or mythical archetypes.
A visual metaphor from “The Useless Thing” — the creature awkwardly reads over a stranger’s shoulder on the subway, humorously capturing the desire to understand human behavior and fit in.