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Have your say - vote for the LCF Artist in Residence 2026!

After many coffee-inspired entries, our judges have narrowed it down to a list of five finalists - but now its your turn! Have your say and vote for who you think should be crowned The London Coffee Festival Artist in Residence 2026! Take a look below at the full list of finalists.

Vote for your favourite by Thursday 23rd October 2025

Alisha Lucia Davidson

M

Alisha Lucia Davidson (she/her) is a freelance illustrator and artist from Canada now based in London. She has taught drawing workshops, exhibited her work both locally and internationally and participated in numerous zine and art book fairs. 

She works traditionally using acrylic gouache as well as digitally using Photoshop and Illustrator. She creates energetic, empowering illustrations using bold colours that depict the body in motion. Her work explores themes of mental health, body positivity, gender, and interpersonal relationships. She is continuously interested in how she can utilize texture and colour to evoke emotion and covey energy. 

Instagram: @alisha_lucia
TikTok: @alisha__lucia
Website: www.alishadavidson.com

Take a look at Alisha's artwork - click on each image to see it in full:

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Slumber Party
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Village Mural

    Elyse Blackshaw

    M

    Elyse Blackshaw is a London-based artist and fashion illustrator whose work explores the energy of fashion through expressive line, layered textures, and instinctive mark-making. Her practice translates movement and emotion into bold visual narratives that capture the excitement of contemporary culture. Elyse studied BA (Hons) Embroidery at Manchester School of Art (2013), where she discovered her connection to drawing and image-making, before completing an MA in Textiles, Mixed Media at the Royal College of Art (2019). Since then, her fashion illustration has evolved into creating immersive artworks that transform events and live experiences. Her signature style, defined by fluid black lines and a playful approach to colour and mixed-media, has attracted a wide range of collaborations. She has worked with leading clients including Samsung, Selfridges, The Shard, Traid, the British Library, Winsor & Newton, Strathberry, Shrimps, New Balance, Cass Art, and the London Edition Hotel. 

    Alongside her practice, Elyse contributes to the field through education and industry engagement. She has served as a Graduate Fashion Week Judge for the Fashion Illustration Award (since 2023), and has taught as Visiting Lecturer at Manchester School of Art and Manchester Fashion Institute, as well as Lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts. 

    Socials: @elyseblackshaw
    Website: www.elyseblackshaw.com

    Take a look at Elyse's artwork - click on each image to see it in full:

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      Samis Chatziiliadis

      M

      Born and raised in a small Greek village, Sam graduated high school with a diploma for music and later moved to the island of Corfu for his academic studies in Audio and Visual Arts. This is where Sam learned to “muck around” and play with art, having access to a lot of various analogue and digital mediums to play with.

      Then he came down to London to get a masters in screenwriting. Because why not?

      Then he started doing art. And then some more music. And a little bit of this. And a little bit of that. Then one thing bled into the other. And then he started mixing ideas. And now we’re here. And these are mostly portraits of people. Some of them Sam knows, a lot he doesn’t. And Sam tries to capture people in their natural state. People who are truly there. In what they are doing.

      Instagram: @sam_chatziiliadis
      Website: cs-famm.com/

      Take a look at Samis' artwork - click on each image to see it in full:

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        Veta Yatsenko

        M

        I’m a Ukrainian illustrator based in London. My work is quiet but emotional, it tells stories about people, care, and belonging. I use minimal forms, rhythm, and colour to capture subtle feelings that often stay unspoken.

        I’ve also spent several years working in the coffee industry in Ukraine. That world of aromas, textures, and calm precision still influences how I see and create. I’m a true coffee lover, and for me, illustration is like a slow brew, layered, attentive, and full of aftertastes.

        Instagram: @yatsenkoveta
        Website: vetayatsenko.xyz

        Take a look at Veta's artwork - click on each image to see it in full:

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          Zosia Bonkowska

          M

          Zosia Bońkowska is a London-based Polish illustrator, graphic designer and a founder of a one-person creative studio ZOVSKA illustration. She creates character-driven illustrations that capture everyday moments in a fresh and expressive style. Her work spans editorial, branding and packaging design, often featuring quirky characters, distorted body shapes and exaggerated expressions. In her studio, she designs illustrated brand identities for businesses, creates visuals for marketing campaigns and pitches, as well as illustrates labels for product packaging and publications.

          Zosia was also a shortlisted artist in the World Illustration Awards.

          Instagram: @zo_vska
          TikTok: @zo_vska
          Behance: behance.net/zovska 
          LinkedIn: zosiabonkowska
          Website: www.zovska.com

          Take a look at Zosia's artwork - click on each image to see it in full:

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