Aart-Jan Venema uses digital and traditional painting techniques to create multi-layered and fantastically coloured illustrations, anchored with a strong compositional eye. Aart likes to fill his illustrations with stories, surprises and details for the viewer to find, reminiscent of one of his favourite painters, Hieronymous Bosch. He lives and works in the Hague and is the winner of both the Overall Professional and Design awards at the World Illustration Awards 2017.
Aart’s diverse portfolio has led him to work with clients such as Google, BMW, the New Yorker, Kiehl’s, ZEIT magazine, Douwe Egberts, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Green Man Festival, and The Guardian. Aart has also illustrated his first picture book ‘Night Windows’, published by Cicada Books. When he’s not illustrating – which is quite rare – you’ll find Aart surfing, playing board games, watching Twin Peaks or reading Murakami.