Hello there, I am Somewan or
Tengwan Quek
About Somewan
Somewan is a freelance illustrator with focus in tech, climate change and exploring cultures. With more than 15 years of experience in the design industry, she is passionate in finding effective ways to connect ideas, imagination and emotions on a canvas. On the side, she loves everything cats, maps, architecture, trees, mountains and fascinated by all kind of miniature models.
Clients
Temasek Trust • GovTech, Singapore • MCCY • National Heritage Board • Expo 2020 Dubai • Andaz Hotel • PSB Academy • Creative Debut • Fine Acts • TEDcountdown • Cogenerate • Nanyang Technological University
Any ideas to collaborate? Let's do this.
Recognitions
Pictoplasma Berlin Open Call
Character Matters, Creativity Blasts Off
Top 100, Premiere in Pictoplasma Berlin 2025
Illoboom! Illustration Summit Challenge 2024
Merit & Judge's Awards, Pack Smartly
Top 50, Olympic Sports, SG landmarks
The Northern Illustration Prize, 2023
Shortlisted, Emerging Illustrator Category, The big blue engine
3x3 mag Professional Show No.19, 2022
Merit and Honorable Mention, Emotional Baggage/Being Outside
Communication Arts 2022
Shortlist, Illustration
Artists for climate 2021
Selected Artists, Open license illustration
Crowbar Award 2013
Bronze. Editorial Publication, ADM Show 2012
Finalist. Below the line collaterals
Crowbar Award 2012
Finalist. Editorial Publication, Rebirth
Under Dr. Jesvin Yeo's project
Assisted in research and illustrated for Vanishing Crafts and Vanishing Materials.
Featured
Procreate.art – Featured illustration
Procreate Instagram – Featured illustration
Expo 2020 Dubai – Closing declaration illustration
The AOI – Excellent Editorial Illustration Part 2
Inprnt – Curated Picks
JaamZIN Creative – Featured artist
Designers of Colour – Listed
ElloHype – New illustrator
Minty – Featured illustration
Publications
Illustrator for Jesvin Yeo's book – Forgotten Heritage, Uncovering Singapore's Traditional Chinese Puppets
Illustrator for Jesvin Yeo's book – Vanishing Crafts and Vanishing Materials
Jesvin Yeo & Quek Tengwan. (2012). Creative process: A comparative study between concentration. and distraction. International Journal of Arts and Commerce, 1(6), 280-287.
Jesvin Yeo & Quek Tengwan. (2012). A comparative study between concentration and distraction. Proceedings of the Asian Conference on Media and Mass Communication 2012, Osaka, Japan, pp. 380 - 388
Exhibitions
Illustration Arts Festival 2023 – Pop-up booth
Pameran Poskad Dec 2022 – Singapore landmarks
Mythology RElooked Aug 2022 – Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Art Attack Illustration Exhibition Apr 2022 – Creative Debut x Adidas London
TED Countdown, Artists for Climate Oct 2021 – UN Climate Change Conference
Giffestsg – Gif Exhibition 2018, 2020
Experiences
Independent Freelance Illustrator/Designer • Self-employed
2018 – PresentTransited to focus on illustration in 2020. Open to illustration projects ranging from tech, commercial, editorial, merchandise, events and more.
Design Lead • Gomu.co
2022 – 2023Design for better Web3 experience at Gomu. Ranging from product design to brand design.
Senior Product Designer • Zendesk
2012 – 2018Worked closely with product managers, engineers, UX researcher and the global creative team to grow design through iterations, ideation and user validation.
Illustrator/Art Director (Freelance)
2009 – 2015Notably, illustrated, researched and compiled a bilingual book on preserving "Vanishing Crafts" and "Vanishing Materials", led by Dr. Jesvin Yeo.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Diploma in Industrial Design
Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore