About the Illustrator

Illustration & Design

Editorial illustration, children’s books, surface pattern design, and graphic design. Over 10 years of professional experience bringing stories, brands, and ideas to life through drawing.

Who I Am

An artist who draws for a living

I’m Catarina Garcia — a Portuguese artist, illustrator, and surface pattern designer based in Lisbon. My work blends vibrant colour, expressive line, and a strong sense of storytelling across editorial, publishing, and product design.

With a Fine Arts degree in Painting and a Master’s in Drawing from FBAUL, plus an intensive drawing course at the Slade School of Art (London), I bring an artist’s eye and over a decade of professional experience to every project.

I’ve illustrated children’s books, scientific publications, CD covers, posters, and editorial pieces. More recently, I’ve expanded into surface pattern design — creating original patterns for wallpaper, bedding, stationery, and fabric, ready for licensing or buyout.

Published & Featured In

  • —“Riacho de Prata” — Children’s book (Trindade Gallery Edition, 2012)
  • —“O velho que pintava pombas” — Children’s book (Opera Omnia Edition, 2013)
  • —“Exotic Fruits and Nuts of the New World” — Scientific illustration (CABI, 2015)
  • —CD covers for Roland Digh, Vincent Poag, VOLK and Mabi (2014–2024)
  • — Illustrations for poetry book “Florbela” (Editora Virgula d’interrogação)

Education

2009–12 – Master in Drawing – FBAUL, Lisbon
2003–08 –BA & Degree in Fine Arts — Painting -FBAUL
2019–20 – Graphic Design – ETIC, Lisbon
2025 – Repertoire — Surface Pattern Design – Online
2015 –  Intensive Drawing – Slade School of Art, London
2007–08 Erasmus Scholarship – Accademia Albertina, Turin

Tools & Software

Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Procreate Premiere Pro

Traditional Mediums

Acrylic Watercolor Ink Colored Pencil Gouache Mixed Media Digital Drawing

Catarina is a freelance artist, illustrator, graphic designer and teacher.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

-Março 2022 – “Contemplações” – Trindade Gallery, Oporto
-March 2014 – “Musique” – Trindade Gallery, Oporto
-September – December 2012 – “Riacho de Prata” Illustrations – MAEDS Museum, Setúbal
-Febuary 2011 – “Imagined Dream” – Novo Século Gallery, Lisboa
-November 2011 – “Imagined Dream” – Trindade Gallery, Porto
-January 2010 – “Vivências” – Novo Século Gallery, Lisbon

COLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS (selection)

-November 2011 – Art Fair “Arte Lisboa 2011”, Galeria Trindade Stand, Lisboa
-August – September 2012 – Douro’s Printmaking Biennial
-December 2014 – Present – “National Group Exhibition 70 Cavaquinhos 70 Artistas”, 10 different Portuguese cities, including Jeronimos Monastery, Lisbon
-August 2015 – “The Expanded Field of Drawing – A Selection of Recent Works”, Slade School of Art, London, UK
-Several group exhibitions at the Novo Século Gallery, Lisbon; and at Trindade Gallery, Oporto, from 2010 – present.

WORK EXPERIENCE

-October 2012/3 – Illustration Workshops, Teacher at the 5th and 6th National Illustrator’s Meeting in São João Da Madeira, Portugal
December 2012 – Invited Teacher at the drawing course “Line to line”, which was part of the Drawing Triennial Event, MAEDS Museum, Setúbal, Portugal
-July 2010 – Visual Arts children’s teacher (painting/drawing/sculpture/illustration) – Pedro Serrenho Fine Arts School
-November 2011 – Public attendance at the Lisbon Art Fair “Arte Lisboa 2011”, Trindade Gallery Stand
-August 2010 – Public attendance at Pedro Serrenho Art Gallery, Lisbon.
-2007/8 – Resident artist and public attendance at Art Jammers Galery, Lisbon

Always eager to learn new things, is currently upgrading all her knowledge using online platforms to learn and also regular attendance of classes.

My Contact Info

Based in: Lisbon, Portugal

E-mail: catarinagarciaartist@gmail.com

+(351) 916280540

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