# Project Description

The Vampire Widow

Briana Gowe

Summary

Final work

I’ve been an artist since I was 7. I started out inspired by anime and spent years drawing my own characters. In college I studied Games Art, began digital drawing, and moved beyond anime to create original designs. At university I developed my style and leaned into hyper‑realism. I had a tough childhood, homelessness, financial struggles, no parents from 16, but art became my coping mechanism and the one thing I stayed consistent with. After University I aspire to make become a concept artist and work with a major company like Riot Games or Blizzard.

I’ve been an artist since I was 7. I started out inspired by anime and spent years drawing my own...

College Wimbledon College of Arts

Course BA (Hons) Art Direction and Visual Effects

Graduation year 2026

This piece is a part of my Unit 10 research project and digital portfolio. The grayscale portrait of my character is inspired by 1800s portraiture and tintype photography. For the project, I have created various character designs for Annie as I am working on a final 3D piece. My project is set in 1890 Western America, Mississippi, followed by the Vampire Widow Annie. Annie also has a 5-year-old daughter named Bettie, and she is completely human. Annie’s story follows her recently losing her human husband after being married for 5 years. Which her neighbours know, due to her vampiric nature, she has taken the blood of her husband and stored it away to keep herself alive. Bettie still loves her mother and it leaves us to question does Bettie know about her mothers secret? Or is she completely in the dark. This project was inspired by Ryan Cooglers 'Sinners' and I used the song from the film 'Last time I seen the sun' by Miles Caton to show how Annie is incapable of living a normal life.

Final work

A 1890s Tintype Portrait of Annie

I created this tintype inspired portrait to make the character time specific. I was heavily inspired by wealthy black women from the 1880s and researched what they would have looked like. I wanted to push for a wealthy, black vampire from the 1891s because I think it is something that hasn't been done before. I wanted to create a different and unique concept to push the boundaries of my artistic skills.

Research and process

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This piece is a part of my Unit 10 research project and digital portfolio. The grayscale portrait of my character is inspired by 1800s portraiture and tintype photography. For the project, I have created various character designs for Annie as I am working on a final 3D piece. ...

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