About Ali
Hello! I'm Ali, a freelance illustrator based in the North West of England. Architecture and travel have inspired my artwork for as long as I can remember, and in recent years I have spent much of my free time exploring the UK's characterful towns and villages. I strongly believe that local travel can be just as fulfilling as travelling abroad, and through my practice of drawing maps I have developed a much deeper appreciation of the places around me. I hope that my maps will inspire new adventures close to home, and help everyone appreciate the cities, towns and villages they live in.
I also create watercolour architectural artworks and greeting cards, which can be found here on my website. I love creating artwork that is meaningful to my customers, so you'll find that many of my products can be personalised for that extra special touch.
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Making a living from my art is something I am grateful for every single day, and I hope you enjoy looking at my work as much as I enjoyed creating it!
Ali Draws Studio - The Story
In the Spring of 2020 I designed an illustrated map of my local village and shared it on social media. I was encouraged by the positive response to it, and was surprised to receive numerous requests for prints of my design. I set up an Etsy shop to keep track of orders, and began designing illustrated maps of other nearby villages. The requests for prints continued, and I gradually I realised that there was potential to turn this hobby into a full-time business. After a few months of sharing my work on social media, I began to work on larger projects with local businesses, and within a year I was designing maps for international clients.
I now work with a number of businesses, non-profits and public bodies, to create unique maps, architectural paintings and a range of other designs. You can also find my work in a growing number of independent stores and galleries across the North West, and I look forward to partnering with more shops in future.
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As my small business continues to grow, I hope to expand the range of products on offer, and later this year I hope to create my first homewares collection. I am also building on my portfolio of greeting card designs, which I soon hope to sell to retailers across the UK. Two years on and I still work from my home studio in Cheshire, which brings me so much joy every day.
If you would like to work with me in any way, whether for commissions, collaborations or to stock my designs, I would be delighted to hear from you!
