Dan May is an illustrator and visual storyteller with over 20 years of experience creating evocative, character-driven imagery for publishing, brands, and creative teams. His work blends narrative, atmosphere, and emotion, often focusing on moments of connection, curiosity, and quiet meaning.

He has collaborated with clients across publishing, advertising, fashion, entertainment, and music. His client list includes Lane Crawford, VIZ Media, Fantagraphics, FOX, Peanuts Worldwide, The Jim Henson Company, UNICEF, US Games, Blue Angel Publishing, Pomegranate Publishing, and Dirtybird Records, among others.

Dan’s work has been featured and recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, and the Society of Illustrators, and has appeared in publications such as Hi-Fructose and Juxtapoz. His illustrations and paintings have also been exhibited internationally, including participation in the 2013 Suggestivism exhibition at the Acquario Romano in Rome.

He is also the creator of Gentle Creatures®, an original narrative world that has expanded into books, retail partnerships, and licensed collaborations. That long-form storytelling experience informs his client work, bringing a strong sense of character, mood, and narrative cohesion to each project.

Dan approaches each collaboration with care and curiosity, working closely with clients to understand the heart of an idea and translate it into imagery that feels thoughtful, human, and emotionally resonant.

He is currently working on several children’s book projects and is available for illustration, concept development, character design, and visual storytelling across publishing, entertainment, and brand spaces.

Dan lives and works in the Raleigh, North Carolina area with his wife, Kendal, and their three children.