How many times have you found yourself in the situation of having to tell the plot of a film and not knowing where to start, which parts to say and which parts to omit? Think about how difficult it can be to encapsulate the story in a single image. An impossible task for many, but not for Adam Simpson. 

Adam Simpson is a British illustrator from Leicester, who trained first at Edinburgh College of Art, then at Rhode Island School of Design and finally at the Royal College of Art in London. Today he is represented by the Heart Illustration agency and his output consists of commissioned work and personal projects. 

His ability to vary from a simple and minimal style to a more colourful and detailed one has led him to collaborate with brands and international names such as British Airways, Coca-Cola, GQ, The Guardian, Harper Collins, Heineken, Hilton Hotels, The Hollywood Reporter, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Nike and many others.

The illustrations he creates are striking and easy for anyone to understand, which is why in 2012 he was called upon to create a stamp for the London Olympics, or again, one year, for the BAFTAs he created the official invitation card. 

A glance at his portfolio reveals a certain love for cinema and stories in general. Sometimes he uses just a few elements to help us understand the film depicted, as with Inception or The Grit, and sometimes he creates real “worlds” that represent the entire plot and some of the most iconic scenes from the films. 

We’ve selected just a few of his illustrations, so follow Adam Simpson on Instagram to keep up with all his work.