Saeko was born in Japan to a painter mother who specialises in Buddhist inspired art and a philosophy professor father. Saeko moved to London in 1995 to study Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins, where she specialized in Illustration. During this time, she enjoyed experimenting with many different styles of drawings, painting and computer based picture editing skills. Saeko creates original artwork using mixed medium of pencil, water colour and cut out paper, finishing off in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Prior to becoming an illustrator, Saeko worked as a fashion stylist for clients including Vogue, Sony and JAL. Her love of fashion and beauty is clearly reflected in her artwork, and she can’t deny the influence of her mother’s Buddhist art, especially in the vivid colour scheme and heavenly mystical look she applies to her pieces. Saeko’s Japanese roots pervade strongly throughout and her sumptuous Japanese woodblock style is a look often requested by clients.

Past commissions include MAZDA, BBC, McDonald’s, Harvey Nichols, The Times, Superdrug, The Telegraph, The Independent, Management Today Magazine, Automobile Magazine, Bild Zeitung Newspaper, Waterstone’s , Zest Magazine, Spirit & Destiny Magazine, 125 Magazine, Rapt Clothing, C Book, Crosstown Rebels, Bolz Magazine, Issue One Magazine, All Access Magazine, Kawaii.

Saeko’s artwork was featured in Gestalten’s illustration collector books, ‘All Allure’ and ‘Illusive’ as well as Taiwanese design publication ‘Design Now’. Saeko’s work was also chosen by the Association of Illustrators for their industry awards, Images 36.
Saeko’s dream job is to illustrate for advertising for cosmetics, cars and prestige fashion magazines.