illustration & live drawing by Ål Nik //
illustration & live drawing by Ål Nik //
I'm an illustrator creating custom illustrations and visual translations for NGOs and businesses, so their message travels further, and their cause gets the support it deserves.
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illustration
I create custom and stock illustrations that bring ideas to life, from editorial visuals and campaigns to playful drawings for books and visual annual reports.
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live drawing
During talks, workshops, or conferences, I listen closely and draw in real time, translating complex ideas into vivid, memorable visuals your audience will love.
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fine art
I work across image, sound, text, and experimental publishing, releasing pieces that create space for dialogue. See my art here.
some of my previous work
illustrations for Unsplash
Since 2024, I have been a contributor to the Unsplash+ illustration programme.
Looking for some custom images for your website, similar to some of these? Let me know and I'll make them for you.
client work
I’ve been drawing Ideas Factory’s annual reports since 2021. Every year, I illustrate all the data they wish to share with their community, donors, and project partners.
My work with Emprove Foundation started in 2019 when I created visuals for their first campaigns. Since then, we established their “Early Bird” character and made many series of designs and illustrations with her. I love designing and illustrating their annual reports, too.
Over the years, I have illustrated and designed several digital and print books for inspiring and valuable causes, including:
★ Nomadways, where I created illustrations for publication in “21 Crowdfunding Stories”.
★ FEBcommunity, in collaboration with Elena Nikolova, I illustrated and designed a handbook for female entrepreneurs.
Are you working for a cause or project that needs some data visualised or a story - graphically told?
trusted by
Visit my web shop
Limited-edition prints, art publications, and digital illustrations for small business, NGOs and practitioners
Art Shop
Art Shop
featured project
Once You Cross The Ocean
Once You Cross the Ocean is a groundbreaking documentary solo performance created by Bulgarian theatre-maker Martina Novakova. It investigates how we recreate our culture and ourselves in a foreign sociocultural context and what image we would like for Bulgaria to have abroad.
For this project, my task was to create a tailored illustration and turn it into a theatrical poster. Which travelled North America and Europe!
let’s talk!
who I am
Hey! :)Hi! I am Ål Nik (Alexandra Nikolova), an artist and illustrator who uses custom illustration, live drawing, editorial illustration, and fine art to help businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs communicate through the most instantaneous medium imaginable: images.
With an MFA in Fine Art and Media Design and BAs in Art History and Art Education, I have a full grasp of how to use art to help people visualise key ideas and complex information through hand-drawn illustration. Whether I am providing editorial illustrations live at a conference or working one-on-one to create custom illustrations for a client, I channel my versatile skills to simplify complex thoughts so that they are immediately understandable.
The result is not only useful in the moment, but the final artwork can be used in social media, print, web, presentations, and marketing campaigns to boost community connection.
What my clients are saying
art letter
Ål’s Letter On the 13th is a monthly publication on Substack where I share the latest about my art practice and resources & valuable things I find on my way.