Michelle Thompson – Papercuts: 30 Years of Collage & Illustration

Michelle Thompson has been a freelance illustrator and collage artist since graduating with a First Class degree in Illustration from Norwich School of Art, followed by an MA at the Royal College of Art in 1996. Her work combines analogue collage with digital illustration, creating bold, layered pieces that explore texture, narrative, and found imagery. Clients include The Sunday Times, Financial Times, Channel 4, The New York Times, and The Guardian.

Papercuts presents a retrospective of Thompson’s three-decade career, showcasing original collage pieces alongside her printed illustration work. The exhibition traces her evolving approach, from early cut-and-paste experiments to contemporary digital compositions.

Born in Royston, Hertfordshire in 1972, Michelle has lived and worked in SaffronWalden for the past 24 years.

Michelle Thompson – Papercuts: 30 Years of Collage & Illustration will be in the Gibson Room at the Fry Art Gallery between Sunday 5th April and Sunday 28th June 2026.