Dr Tommy Leung is a researcher and lecturer in parasitology and evolutionary biology. He also has many 'nerdy interests' and a flair for illustrating the biological, the surreal, the abstract and the weird.
What is your private passion and how did it develop?
I am an illustrator. I draw a variety of things by hand, then digitise and edit them via computer, and commonly use real parasites as inspiration. I'm a real parasite nerd; I find them fascinating. Using scientific references is a way for me to explore science through my artwork, but some of my characters are also sci-fi creatures. My online handle is "The Episiarch" - named after a fictional alien being with the power to alter the shape of reality.
I was always illustrating things as a child. There was never a time when I wasn't drawing.
The subject matter has changed over time, but I have always been inspired by biological, surreal, abstract and weird things. I'm not a professional illustrator; I've only sold a few prints, but I do try to improve with each piece I do. My technique has become more refined over time.
Anime (hand-drawn and computer-generated Japanese animation) and cartoons, along with manga (Japanese graphic novels) and comics have had a big influence on my drawing, and I would count natural history art as another inspiration. Fantasy author and artist Wayne Barlowe, who did creature designs for big-budget Hollywood films like Harry Potter, Pacific Rim and Hellboy, is someone whose work I admire.
What does it involve and how much of your time does it consume?
I draw after-hours and never really keep track of the time. I don't draw every day. I go through periods where I might draw all weekend, then not for ages. But I do like to spend a lot of time on each major piece. The benefit of producing stylised art is that you can emphasise certain features. I like to give each character some personality. If they are based on a real animal, then I like to convey something of what that animal actually does. Most people wouldn't notice, but people in the know will recognise the little biological references.
How does this passion enrich your life?
It's a creative outlet that engages my brain in a different way to work. It allows me to shift gear and helps avoid burn-out.
Even though I approach my artwork with a degree of professionalism, it allows me to forget work for a while. Being somewhat obsessive, that can be hard.
What (if anything) does this personal passion and your enjoyment of it bring to your working life?
My drawing is very different to what I do for work. It enriches my life overall. I am the kind of person who has a tendency to turn everything into “work”, and I have to hold myself back from that. Illustrating enables me to achieve a better work-life balance.
Do you have other personal passions you would like to share?
I have a variety of “nerdy interests”. I watch anime and read manga. I also have an interest in modern history and military machinery, and popular science. I read science fiction novels and some of what I have read in those novels is reflected in my artwork.
