Name and job title
Ling Tang, Freelance Illustrator and 2D Animator
Where were you born, and where do you live now?
I was born in a seaside town in Great Yarmouth, but I grew up in South Wales and Manchester. I now live and work in London.
How you describe what you do? I’m a visual problem solver that works with minimal shapes and sometimes motion.
How much did you spend on your last cup of coffee? £3.20 for an oat milk latte from the local coffee shop, The Yellow Warbler
What is one ingredient that is crucial to your life? I cannot function without a good nights sleep, I need all the energy in the world to stare at my computer screen.
What does a food and/or drinks system mean to you?
A food system to me is an approach to manage a sustainable way, to source ingredients locally or globally to your kitchen/ restaurant, to your plate.
How does your immediate locale / environment affect your work? It took me quite some time to find a piece of London I enjoyed being in. I feel that green spaces are an important factor for me, It is nice to be able to enjoy quiet spaces in London especially during the lockdown, and to able to cycle everywhere without almost being hit by a car. Previously I lived close to the center of London and felt out of place, unhappy and uninspired. The area I live in now is the right balance of independent shops, bars, and restaurants.
Where do you draw inspiration from in your work? I draw inspiration from almost anything, music, dreams, cartoons, emotions, and life experiences.
What impact do you want to have? During the lockdown, I have had too much time to think about my existence and what impact I’d like to have in this world. I would love to simply utilize my career, show how being creative can spread a positive message, and possibly make someone's day. Otherwise overthinking this question will give me an existential crisis!
What change do you want to see in the food and/or drinks system? I can see changes within the food system slowly improving with apps that allow you to buy food that otherwise would go to waste. Secondly, I’d like to see more vegan-friendly options (for my vegan friends) at restaurants as it can quite disappointing to see one or two options available for people who live that lifestyle. So maybe more improvement for a balanced menu!
We ask all our interviewees to send us two photos: one of themselves and one that represents their work. The above image is a spot illustration commissioned by SOURCED – our first paid commission thanks to paid-subscribers to the SOURCED newsletter. The brief was to focus on an ingredient that Ling felt best represented her relationship to food/drink, she chose eggs and they are depicted here amongst ramen ingredients.
