My Journey
Dr. Ashleigh Neill is a former central bank economist turned illustrator
From Law to Finance. After studying Law, Politics and Maths at the University of Limerick, I worked with a human rights NGO in Geneva, attending United Nations sessions. The 2008 financial crisis and the harsh realities of austerity led me to a fully funded doctoral scholarship at Queen's University Belfast, where I completed an MSc and PhD in Finance, exploring how better banking regulation could build a more resilient financial system.
My first day attending United Nations sessions in Geneva
From Research to Illustration.
Early in my research career, I started building editorial-style illustrations into my technical presentations and teaching. The response was immediate, visuals sparked curiosity and engagement that theory alone couldn't match, earning me Best Poster and Best Presenter awards at Queen's. I began drawing as PhDcartoon, creating visuals for academics across Ireland, the UK, the US, and Canada, with illustrations appearing in books published by Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge and in my own peer-reviewed research.
Presenting my PhD research at Queen's University Belfast
Financial Economist to TellSimply.
After my PhD, I joined the Central Bank of Malta as a Senior Financial Economist, co-authoring technical reports, serving on the EU Expert Task Force on Stress Testing, and creating infographics and visual summaries for the bank's flagship publications. I also delivered visual communication workshops at Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University and internally at the central bank. Seeing how visual storytelling transformed complex messages and instilled confidence in participants, I decided to take the plunge and launch TellSimply.
Photo: Brendan Landy Photography
Why Illustration
I've always been inspired by the editorial cartoonist as a chronicler of time; there is a unique power to inking a drawing. Just as an editorial cartoonist can distil political news and social commentary into a single image, I aim to turn the complex and abstract into a clear, relatable insight through imagery.
Finds the story.
A drawing highlights the human angle behind statistics and financial models, grounding complex material and bringing it to life.
Anchors ideas.
A visual hook helps the message land and ensures concepts stick longer than text alone.
Broadens who gets it.
A simple editorial-style image gives stakeholders and non-experts an accessible entry point into discussing complex, sensitive or technical topics.
"I was looking for someone to illustrate complex social relationships for my book. Ashleigh took the time to meet with me, asking insightful questions to understand what I was trying to achieve. She captured the essence perfectly with computer generated figures — so much so, I commissioned her to create two further pen-and-ink drawings. A pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her work."
Catherine Hands, PhD, Associate Dean, Brock University