royal academy of illustration & design
Our story
Founded in 2002, the Royal Academy of Illustration & Design (R.A.I.D.) began as a shared studio space between friends Chip Zdarsky, Ben Shannon, Kagan McLeod, and Cameron Stewart — four artists eager to carve their place in the world of comics and illustration. What started as a creative refuge quickly evolved into a thriving collective, home to some of the industry’s top talent in comics and sequential art.
Over the years, R.A.I.D. has welcomed a diverse roster of resident artists, including Kalman Andrasofszky, Karl Kerschl, Andy Belanger, Scott Hepburn, Cary Nord, Marcus To, Paul Rivoche, Francis Manapul, and Ramón K Pérez. Some stayed briefly, others made it their long-term creative home. With each new voice, the collective continues to grow as a place for artists to learn, collaborate, and inspire one another.
In 2018, R.A.I.D. expanded into a new, purpose-built headquarters at 1720 Queen Street West in Parkdale, Toronto—marking the next chapter in its evolution as a multidisciplinary hub for creators of all kinds.
Our team
Ramón Pérez
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rob Coughler
OPERATIONS MANAGER
DARCY SHEA
MANAGING EDITOR
MARIA DONATI
STUDIO MANAGER
and
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Michaela Smith-Loeters
MARKETING
LIASON
JUST SOME OF Our creatives
Next generation
The documentary COMIC BOOK ARTISTS: NEXT GENERATION was filmed in 2014, and originally aired on AT&T’s U-verse. The 30-minute documentary takes a peek into the lives of RAID studio members Ramón Pérez, Francis Manapul, and Kalman Andrasofszky, and their lives as visual creatives and storytellers, with cameos by Stan Lee, Alyssa Milano, and Jim Lee.
In the Media
Come together
RAID SPACES
Our co-working community brings creatives together to grow, collaborate, and inspire. It’s a vibrant hub for networking, meaningful connections, and a springboard for innovation, exploration, and artistic growth.
RAID EVENTS
At RAID, our events spark creativity and connection—from exhibit launches and artist talks to life drawing sessions and interactive workshops. There’s always something inspiring happening here.
