Ana Aguiar

Ana Aguiar – Designer

Portuguese illustrator based in Amsterdam creating vibrant, colourful worlds for children and the young at heart.

Overview

Hello! I’m a Portuguese illustrator based in Amsterdam, creating colourful, story-driven artwork for children to explore together with their grownups.

My work is mainly inspired by everyday life, playful moments with friends and family, and the power of a child's imagination. I love exploring how images can carry rhythm, movement, and emotion, shaping a story visually and creating a sense of connection for the reader.

With a background in architecture, I bring a strong sense of composition and structure to my illustrations, balancing clarity with warmth and spontaneity. I work both digitally and through traditional sketching, often starting with loose ideas, word associations, and colour exploration before building the final image.

I’ve illustrated published children’s books and worked on editorial and educational projects for international publishers. I especially enjoy working on books, games, and editorial projects that are driven by storytelling, curiosity, humour, and emotional depth.

I enjoy collaborating closely with authors and teams to bring each story to life through thoughtful, expressive visual storytelling.

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Holiday Middle Grade Picture Books
Languages
English

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2023 — Present
I am a freelance illustrator working across children’s books, editorial, educational projects, and games. My work includes picture books, sound books, colouring books, editorial illustration, and board and card games, focusing on creating colourful, story-driven visuals for children and families. Before becoming an illustrator, I worked for 11 years as an architect, which strongly influences my approach to composition, structure, and visual storytelling. It also supports my ability to handle complex visual projects with clarity and confidence. I have now been working as a freelance illustrator for over 3 years.

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