Fiona Hawthorne was born in Belfast but left aged six when her family moved to Hong Kong, where she was immediately inspired by the irresistible energy and bustle of the vibrant cityscape around her. She developed a passion for using strong colour and fluid economic line, and after finishing her degree at Chelsea School of Art, she illustrated for clients from Time Out to Tag Heuer to Tatler. Hawthorne's ability to paint and sketch in any location led to commissions to capture London's emerging jazz scene and action on film sets, then to a series of celebrated public art commissions. She was the first artist in residence to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and her portrait of Barack Obama hangs in the Library of Congress. In 2016 she was awarded the International Arts Advocacy Award by WIFTS (Women in Film and Television).