Meet Nona: Liverpool’s Character-Driven Illustrator and Painter
YourStuffMade Community Feature · Illustrator, Painter & Storyteller
Nona is a Liverpool-based illustrator and painter whose character-driven artwork blends mythology, fantasy and contemporary life.
Working across oil painting and digital illustration, she creates richly imagined worlds filled with modern myths, expressive characters and stories that connect ancient ideas with present-day experiences.
Who Is Nona?
Nona is a storyteller and visual artist who brings imaginative characters and modern myths to life through traditional and digital media.
Although she trained in Computer Engineering, her creative path led her toward illustration and painting. Through self-directed learning and ambitious personal projects, she developed a distinctive portfolio filled with fantasy, character design and narrative art.
Medium & Creative Style
Oil Painting
Nona uses traditional painting techniques to create depth, texture and atmosphere in her character-focused work.
Digital Illustration
Digital tools allow her to refine details, experiment with composition and bring imaginative concepts to life with precision.
Mythological Storytelling
Ancient creatures, folklore and legendary figures often inspire the characters and narratives within her work.
Modern Character Design
Nona reimagines familiar myths through a contemporary lens, exploring how legendary figures might exist in modern life.
Nona’s work brings together the tactile richness of traditional painting and the flexibility of digital illustration to create modern stories inspired by timeless myths.
What She Creates
- Illustrated anthologies and art books, including Modern Monsters, a global character series imagining mythical creatures adapting to present-day life.
- Fine art prints and oil paintings featuring richly developed characters and fantasy-inspired scenes.
- Comics and personal creative series that combine visual storytelling with myth, humour and contemporary themes.
- Commissioned character designs and fantasy artwork for clients, exhibitions and special creative projects.
- Stickers, enamel pins and books that translate her characters into collectible merchandise.
Her Creative Journey
Despite studying Computer Engineering, Nona was always drawn toward art and visual storytelling. She taught herself both oil painting and digital illustration, gradually building a body of work that reflects her curiosity, discipline and love for character-driven stories.
Her portfolio grew through personal projects, commissions and exhibitions. Along the way, she contributed work to major international and cultural spaces, strengthening her confidence and expanding the possibilities of her creative practice.
Milestones & Achievements
Burj Khalifa Commission
Nona created commissioned artwork connected to one of the world’s most recognisable architectural landmarks.
Hamlet’s Castle Exhibition
Her work has been exhibited at the historic castle associated with Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Bluecoat Chambers Collection
A piece by Nona is part of the permanent collection at Liverpool’s historic Bluecoat Chambers.
Modern Monsters
Her ambitious character series helped her overcome creative stagnation and develop a more structured studio practice.
Challenges & Growth
Procrastination was one of the biggest challenges Nona faced in her creative journey. Rather than waiting for inspiration to arrive, she began creating clearly defined personal projects that gave her structure and direction.
Modern Monsters became an important part of that process. By committing to regular studio sessions and building a larger concept around her characters, she turned creative momentum into a sustainable practice.
- Setting clear project goals instead of relying only on inspiration.
- Creating a weekly studio routine that encouraged consistency.
- Using personal projects to explore ideas without client limitations.
- Building confidence through exhibitions and public-facing work.
- Balancing technical improvement with imaginative storytelling.
What’s Next?
Nona is preparing to launch her first comic book, bringing together short stories filled with mythological characters, imaginative worlds and narrative twists.
She is also exploring oil painting more deeply, developing her technical skills and pushing the emotional and visual storytelling within her work even further.
Nona’s Advice for Fellow Creators
When you can, exhibit at comic conventions or art events. It’s a great way to meet people, gain exposure and grow your creative brand.
Set defined projects to keep procrastination at bay and creativity burning bright.
Her advice highlights the importance of both public connection and private discipline. Events can introduce artists to new audiences, while structured personal projects help keep ideas moving between opportunities.
Turning Mythical Characters into Custom Merchandise
Nona’s detailed characters and narrative worlds are well suited to art books, comics, prints, enamel pins, stickers, acrylic charms, postcards, apparel and collectible merchandise.
Where to Connect & Shop
Explore Nona’s full portfolio and shop through Nona Gallery, where you can find art prints, books, stickers, enamel pins and more.
From Liverpool to an Expansive Creative Universe
Based in Liverpool, Nona has built a creative practice that reaches far beyond one city or medium. Her characters move between painting, illustration, books, comics, exhibitions and products, giving each story room to grow.
Her journey shows how technical curiosity, personal projects and consistent creative practice can transform imaginative ideas into a recognisable artistic world.
Final Thoughts
Nona is an artist who fuses ancient storytelling with modern life. From richly imagined character art to ambitious comics and oil paintings, her work reminds us that every myth—and every artist—has a story waiting to be lived.
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