Monica Auriemma

Monica Auriemma – Designer

Award-winning illustrator with 20+ years of experience. Passionate about historical research, rich detail, and immersive, story-driven art.

Overview

A UK-based Italian illustrator with over 20 years of experience, I collaborate with international publishers on projects ranging from picture books and non-fiction to illustrated fiction and educational publishing.

My background in theatre and film set design has instilled in me a passion for meticulous historical research, a sharp eye for detail and a deep love for timeless classic stories—from Greek myths to the Brothers Grimm, Shakespeare to Alice, and Opera to Harry Potter.

I believe every story is unique, and my art is always at its service. Rather than being merely decorative, my illustrations aim to go beyond the surface, evoking emotion and bringing out the heart of the narrative, characters, and atmosphere.

How I Work

Whether you need full interior illustrations or a striking book cover image, I’m dedicated to making your project shine:

-Brief & Setup: I’ll review your manuscript or brief and ask key questions to align with your vision. If any artwork in my portfolio catches your eye, please feel free to reference it!

-Tailored Approach: I love taking inspiration from your ideas and visual references to ensure the story resonates with your readers.

-Technique: I love to blend hand-drawing, traditional techniques, digital art, and collage. My work is 100% human-made. I use my mind, heart, and hands, not generative AI.

Please note: I cannot work with, refine, or replicate AI-generated images you provide, and I cannot grant you permission to use my images or sketches for AI training.

If you’d like to bring your story to life, I’d love to hear from you!

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

"Monica is a dream to work with: she is incredibly creative and at the same time hardworking and quick in understanding the budget and time constraints of a project. Her eye for detail and attention to every aspect is a great help and she is a very generous team player."

Elena B, author and translator (worked with Monica on Londramania and The Spring Guests)

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction History
Fiction
Classics Cultural & Ethnic Historical Fiction Historical Mysteries Picture Books
Languages
English
Awards
  • Highly Commended at the World Illustration Awards in 2020.
  • Purple Island Award at the NAMI Concours (South Korea) in 2021.

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2005 — Present
Over the years, I have built strong working relationships with various British, American, and Italian publishers, creating picture books, educational books, chapter books, and fiction and non-fiction, as well as book cover illustrations (I also authored two picture books). Here is a non-exhaustive list: UK: HarperCollins (Collins Big Cat), Penguin Random House (Penguin Readers), Pearson UK, Macmillan Education US: Fountas & Pinnell Italy: Rizzoli, Mondadori, Zanichelli, Pearson Italia, Lavieri, Sinnos, Accademia Teatro alla Scala, Paramica

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