Tanya Ling

Tanya Ling is an artist and designer who is best known as a fashion illustrator. Born in Calcutta (1966), her childhood was spent in America, Africa and England. She now lives and works in London. Ling studied Fashion Design and Textiles at St Martins School of Art and after graduating in 1989 moved to Paris to work as a designer for Dorothee Bis and then for Christian Lacroix.

On return to London she set up a contemporary art project ‘Bipasha Ghosh’ with her husband William Ling and in 1996 produced her first exhibition of drawings in Gavin Turk's studio on the Charing Cross Road. This exhibition led to her first commission from British Vogue. Since then, Ling has contributed to leading fashion titles throughout the world including Harper’s Bazaar and US Elle, for whom she illustrated six, award winning, trend reports (1999 -2001). Ling has also contributed to non mainstream titles such as Zoo, Tank and literary magazine The Idler. Commercial commissions include work for Diane Von Furstenberg, Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton, Selfridges and Harrods.

In 2002 Ling produced her debut ready-to-wear collection, which was presented at London’s premier pop art and surrealist gallery, The Mayor Gallery on Cork Street. The collection was featured in the windows of Henri Bendel on 5th Avenue, New York where the collection was sold. British Vogue named Ling one of the most important trendsetters in Britain and in 2003 The Observer Magazine announced her as their designer of the year. Her A/W 2003 collection was shown at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.

Ling has exhibited her fashion illustrations in international exhibitions and with artist, Georgie Hopton presented ‘Beautiful Drawings’ to critical acclaim at The Armory New York (2000). Her work has been featured in numerous newspapers and publications including '100 Years of Fashion Illustration' published by Laurence King.