Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Billelis .. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Billelis, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission as an artist is to uncover the beauty within death and challenge the fears that often consume us. Through my work, I aim to explore the depths of loss, grief, and remembrance, not as something to avoid, but as something to sit with, to learn from, and to honor.

Death is part of the cycle that defines all life. While it is tragic and harrowing, it also plants the seeds for something new. From death, life blooms. From death, memories and teachings are passed on, shaping how we live, love, and move forward. Those we have lost become immortal as their legacy lives on through us, their impact echoing in the way we show up in the world.

To create is to remember, to honour, and to transform grief into gratitude, love, and healing. That is my mission as an artist.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Billelis is a digital artist with an insatiable creative addiction to dark imagery and adorned artistry. Based in the hauntingly beautiful city of Edinburgh, I dedicate countless hours to experimenting, learning, and pushing my artistic boundaries to refine a personal style that fuses darkness and elegance with a romantic, almost timeless quality.

My work is often described as hyper-real, a delicate balance between life and death, where intricate details, a refined palette, and emotional depth collide. It’s an evolving love affair with the contrast of beauty and mortality. Through decorated digital sculpture, I explore my own fears and beliefs, using the macabre as a lens to question life, death, religion, and fear itself.

I originally studied Digital Art and Technology, though the focus leaned heavily toward generative and code-based art. While that gave me a technical foundation, my true education has been self-driven. I began my career in motion graphics studios before taking the leap to build my own company, Billelis. Along the way, I was fortunate to learn from some incredible artists and communities, The French Monkey, Greyscale Gorilla, Beeple, the Octane Facebook Group, and the inspiring feedback of the Behance community.

My years as a style-frame artist and art director taught me speed and precision, crafting full 3D storyboards and treatments in as little as two days. Those skills stuck with me, and with the right render power, my workflow has become both fast and efficient. Of course, being my own boss has its perks, like “rendering breaks,” where I get to recharge with video games or a good comic.

My artistic inspirations are deeply rooted in the classics: baroque and renaissance sculpture, gothic art, human anatomy, and tattoo design. While I lack the ability to draw on paper, 3D tools and my trusty Wacom Cintiq have become my creative playground, helping me bring the ideas in my head to life. Death is a recurring theme in my work, not as an ending, but as a reflection of beauty, transformation, and rebirth.

These days, I work from my own studio, spending my time between personal projects and collaborations with clients I truly want to work with. My decision to focus solely on Billelis has been one of the most rewarding choices of my career, giving me the freedom to dive deep into my creative vision and connect directly with those who resonate with my work.

At the core of my work is a desire to be a distinct voice in the art world, a source of creativity and inspiration. My mission is to push the boundaries of art, bringing a hyper-real fusion of the macabre and the elegant to life, and inviting others to reflect on the beauty and fragility of our shared existence.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Perfection can be a double-edged sword. In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with everyone’s highlight reel, it’s easy to feel creatively drained. I became an artist because I loved playing, experimenting, and seeing where my imagination would take me. But somewhere along the way, I became a perfectionist, and honestly, it took a toll on me.

Sure, my art probably owes a lot to that perfectionism, but it came at a cost. Lately, though, I’ve learned to let go,to be okay with being “bad” at something, to try new things just for the fun of it, and to create without the fear of imperfection. It’s been a reminder of why I started in the first place, and it’s made me fall in love with the process all over again.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The positive reactions from fans over the years have been nothing short of incredible. Working with amazing clients has been deeply rewarding, but if I’m honest, the most meaningful part of it all is knowing that people want to collect my art and make it a part of their homes, studios, and personal spaces.

As an artist, there’s no greater dream than having your work reach people on such an intimate level. It fills me with so much joy to know that what I create resonates enough for someone to want to live with it, to make it part of their daily life. For that, I’m endlessly grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.billelis.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billelis/
• Twitter: https://x.com/billelis/

Image Credits

Billelis