“Be kinky and proud… and I’ll draw it!”: Ryan Gillett on illustrating The Guardian’s weekly sex column

This is how we do it is the (brilliantly titled) weekly column from The Guardian that delves into the sex lives of the general public. Steering clear of Hollywoodified, overly romanticised depictions of sex, it uncovers the plurality of physical intimacy, the many different ways it can be practised and the diversity of desire; from stories on unexpected solutions to erectile dysfunction and ethical polygamy, to saucy home videos. Tasked with the unpredictable process of illustrating each of these anecdotes is the Brighton-based illustrator Ryan Gillett, who – now just over 100 commissions in – has developed a method for visually alluding to the sexual with simplicity, humour and sensitivity.

Ryan can’t deny that when he was first approached about the column he was “a bit surprised”, as he’s “not typically known for drawing pensioners romping!”, but the project was also very intriguing. “Getting a regular commission is a dream for most illustrators,” says Ryan. “It offers a bit of stability in the otherwise unpredictable world of freelancing and can give you some freedom to pursue personal projects with a bit more security.” And the more he thought about it, he realised his style – simple, colourful and playful in tone – would likely suit the brief well, attracting and engaging readers with a universal (if a little bit taboo) subject.

The nature of the subject matter is something Ryan has to keep in mind, and he’s developed ways of accurately depicting the story, while still creating something PG enough for a Saturday broadsheet newspaper – like relying on humour and a touch of surrealism. The tale of an alter-ego spicing up a couple’s sex life is shown through a miniature, nearly naked man clutching on to a spiky stiletto, and a story of differing sex drives is cleverly depicted by two differently sized (yet connected) motors covering the couple’s genitalia. “Sometimes my ideas can get a little out there, which is where having an art director comes in handy to help filter through the madness,” says Ryan. Often, he’ll send his art director Suzanne Lemon a range of ideas from silly to more restrained to make things a little easier – “no one enjoys endless email exchanges,” Ryan adds.

Keeping things contained benefits Ryan too, because the timeline and turnaround are pretty tight – as can be expected for a weekly publishing schedule. He receives the article and headline every Wednesday, with the deadline being the following Monday. Usually he begins by reading through and jotting down (“often saucy”) keywords. Then he gets onto rough digital sketches, leaving enough time for his ideas to marinate. What Ryan often finds “trickiest”, but also most important, is making sure he gets the tone right. “The tricky balance is creating something that is light but with just the right touch of risqué,” says Ryan. “I always include a safer option in my submission, especially if the topic is a bit more sensitive, with the intention of making it easier for my art director.” He continues: “I’m cautious that I never want my work to seem like it’s mocking the column itself, as this feels disrespectful.”

One example of a tricky brief was an article focusing on a male–female relationship in which the woman wanted to try domination. Rather than the typical bondage and leather you might associate with BDSM, however, she wanted to test more abstract, public forms of domination, like him choosing her drink at the bar (cinema-goers, your mind might be flicking to that milk scene in Halina Reijin’s recent film Babygirl) or initiating sex when he wanted. As the topic was a little more unconventional, and potentially quite sensitive, Ryan opted for an approach he often adopts with a more risky subject – playing with scale. “I drew the man standing over her in a football-like pose (as though he had a ball under his foot) as if he had conquered her,” says Ryan. “By making him only 8cm tall, it helped remove any uncomfortable undertones and softened the concept.”

In a publishing context, this is where illustration shines for Ryan. “I think by having an illustration it creates an approachability to the article in a way a photographic image couldn’t. A photograph could set a more serious, inaccessible or even seedy tone.” What makes the column stand out is how everyone’s experiences are highlighted and celebrated, and, in Ryan’s eyes the more “approachable” nature of illustration makes such content less alienating. “I think it would be weird to have a sex article that’s hidden in small print at the back of a newspaper,” Ryan says. “I think the column’s popularity speaks to our collective curiosity – be kinky and proud… and I’ll draw it!”

Despite This is how we do it’s openness and universality, if there’s one major take away Ryan has learned (“the hard way”) from illustrating the column, it’s that the commissions aren’t necessarily ones he can conjure on the go. “Whilst it’s convenient to be able to work from anywhere, commuter trains and sketching 80-year-olds engaging in the 69 position probably isn’t the best combination,” he says. “I’ve definitely had my share of strange looks!”