Hello and thank you for stopping by!
My name is Aga Grandowicz, and after a long and successful career in design and advertising, I decided to dedicate some of my time to wildlife art and illustration.
As a wildlife artist based in Dublin, Ireland, I use nature to connect with the world and others. In a world where wildlife and biodiversity are under such threat, this feels like important work. For me, capturing living things as they go about their day, uninterrupted and unaware of just how magical they are, feels like an opportunity to preserve and prolong their life. My wildlife artwork allows them to exist long after their purpose has been fulfilled, giving recognition to the crucial role they play and the feelings they inspire in us.
My trusted black pen is my tool of choice. I love how it marks the page, its softness and the range of pressure and shade it offers.
I’m drawn to projects with purpose, creating something that’s not just beautiful but useful and informative. Like illustrated nature books for children and adults, or large-scale wildlife murals that help visitors and locals connect with the community they’re in.
Within this website, you’ll see a selection of my illustrations and drawings, mostly related to Wildlife Illustration / Natural History Illustration. They are available to buy as prints, cards and original wildlife art – check my Store page to see my wildlife artwork for sale. You can also commission illustrated information boards or a mural. My artwork would also be suitable for nature books, diaries and calendars, wildlife posters, brochures, wildlife magazines – please get in touch to discuss, and I'll be delighted to help.
In my online shop, I also sell some of the illustrations that have been featured in my books – Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals, Remarkable Creatures: a guide to some of Ireland’s disappearing animals and Blue tit chick.
My wildlife art and illustration covers mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
I studied graphic design, traditional photography and fine arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland, and received my Masters's degree with the highest honours in 2003.
Since 2006, I have been living and working in Ireland.
My ideal wildlife art and illustration project would be signage for zoos, parks and wildlife reserves, top-end restaurants or hotel decor, or a book about wildlife or domesticated animals.
Contact
contact@aga-grandowicz.com
(+353) 85 715 3449
YouTube
Instagram: aga.grandowicz
LinkedIn: Aga Grandowicz
Twitter: @AgaGrandowicz
If you'd like to meet me in person, I'm based in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, Ireland.
Check out my other work related to design and illustration (agrand.ie and naturalworlddesign.ie):
Recent activity:
- Provided illustrations and designs for a few bees-related projects for All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (to be launched in early 2024).
- Managed the production of the newest children's book published by Natural World Publishing – 'Wild Wonders, an anthology of short nature stories for children', designed it, and provided a few illustrations.
- Provided illustrations for two biodiversity and heritage boards for Timahoe, Co. Laois.
- Illustrated two birds diaries for a Polish publisher.
- Artist in residence in McAuley Place in Sallins for 4 weeks; provided art workshops for adults and children (2021 and 2023).
- Illustrated three pollinators-friendly planting schemes for the Welsh government, and two for National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland.
- Illustrated a children's book by Bernardine Mulryan – ‘Blue tit chick’, published by Natural World Publishing.
- Written, illustrated and designed a children's book – ‘Remarkable Creatures: a guide to some of Ireland’s disappearing animals’, published by Natural World Publishing, available in my shop here or from bookstores nationwide.
- Created and licensed illustrations for Tullamore D.E.W. Honey label.
- Created an illustrated video about bees. It's available on my YouTube channel here.
- Set up a new business – Natural World Design – providing design and illustration services for projects related to wildlife and biodiversity.
- Introduced wildlife letters for children – Happy Wildlife Post (out of stock now).
- Created an illustrated information board about my local birds, sponsored by my local County Council.
- Created drawings for County Cork's two colouring books about the County’s Heritage and Biodiversity.
- Provided illustrations for Leitrim County Council’s Heritage brochure.
- Provided illustrations for Dun Laoghiare-Rathdown County Council.
- Illustrated and designed an information board for Kilcolman, Offaly County Council.
- Providing on a regular basis drawing workshops, combined with fun animals facts – run for children in various Irish venues, mostly at book and family festivals, but also in libraries – please check here for more details.
- Participated in RTE Kids workshop and interview.
- Created, together with Rob Maguire, a children's book 'Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals', published in October 2018 by Little Island and shortlisted for Irish Books Awards 2018 in the Best Irish-Published category, CBI's Book of the Year Award 2019 (and won me Award for Illustration in the latter one), and for the Literacy Ireland Children's Book Award 2019.
- Created new Youtube video slide shows:
Wildlife illustrations by Aga Grandowicz
Aga Grandowicz – DRAWINGS
Designing and illustrating a heritage board for Kilcolman, Co. Offaly, Ireland
Some awards:
- Awarded a bursary award from the Arts Council Ireland in 2024.
- Awarded two art grants from the Arts Council Ireland in 2023.
- Awarded two art grants in 2022.
- Awarded an art grant in 2020 from South Dublin County Council.
- Awarded an honour Award for Illustration at CBI’s Book of the Year Award 2019, for Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals.
- Awarded a heritage grant in 2019 to provide wildlife illustrations for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
- Shortlisted for Literacy Ireland Children’s Book Award 2019, for Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals.
- Shortlisted for Irish Books Awards 2018 in the Best Irish-Published category, for Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals.
- Silver award at An Post Smart Marketing Awards, Dublin, 2019.
- Bronze award at An Post Smart Marketing Awards, Dublin, 2016.
- Four Gold, two Silver and two Bronze awards at An Post DMA, Dublin, 2014.
- Winner in ‘Direct Marketing’ category – at All Ireland Marketing Awards, Dublin, 2014.
- Silver award in category ‘Best Utility’ – at An Post DMA, Dublin, 2012.
- Exhibiting posters in poster biennials around the world; recently at the 1st Ecuador Poster Bienal, at the 14th International Poster Biennial in Mexico, at the 8th International Triennial of Stage Poster in Sofia, 2016.
- Two Gold awards in categories Smartest Advertising and Smartest Integrated Campaign for GUINNESSPlus; client: Diageo Ireland, 2013.
- Two Gold awards in categories ‘Best Over-all Creative’ and ‘Best Direct Mail Low Volume’ – at An Post DMA, Dublin, 2010.
photo: Alek Nowak (iconicphotography.ie), 2019.