About Nicoleta
I’m Nicoleta, an illustrator and artist based in the UK. I create children’s book illustrations and original paintings, moving between digital drawing, acrylics and oils. I’m drawn to expressive characters, rich colours and the small details that give a picture personality.
How It Began
Born in Eastern Europe, I studied philosophy and design before building my art practice through years of drawing, painting and learning as I went. I began working professionally as a mural artist in 2011, creating paintings for different spaces and surfaces. That experience still shapes how I think about colour, composition and the setting a piece will belong in.
Finding My Way into Children’s Books
After becoming a mother, I began creating stories for my own children, and children’s illustration became an increasingly important part of my work. I’m now a mum of three and also work in a nursery, where I see the expressions, moments of humour and little discoveries that catch children’s attention. These everyday observations often find their way into the characters and worlds I draw.
I enjoy developing a book from its first character sketches through to finished illustrations, page layout and print-ready formatting, with time to discuss ideas and feedback along the way.
Painting, Texture & Other Surfaces
Alongside illustration, I paint on canvas with acrylics and oils. Flowers, animals and boats are subjects I return to, while palette-knife marks, layers of paint and raised textures give me different ways to explore them. I also enjoy painting on walls and other surfaces, adapting the artwork to its setting.