Egyptian artist Nour Nasser – a mechanical engineer turned picture book illustrator!

After earning a degree in mechanical engineering, Egyptian artist Nour Nasser, aka Nourish, realised life is too short to not follow her passion! From a young age, Nour was captivated by colour, nature, and the art of drawing . She has a passion for learning about different cultures and languages, and this curiosity enriches her art, infusing it with a diverse and vibrant perspective.

As Nour joins us this month, we’ve asked her a few questions:

What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?

I believe my best artwork is yet to come...

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

To get my inspiration flowing, I like to do some urban sketching. I may go out and look for inspiration from nature or buildings, or just sit on my couch, play a good movie and have fun with my paints and pencils, drawing whatever comes into my mind. This makes me happy and gives me confidence.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

I’m true to my art. Quality and detail are my greatest concerns. Although I had a respectable full-time job as a mechanical engineer, I kept up my self-studies in digital painting, as well as in animation and 3D programs; I was then accepted into an animation diploma so I could delve deeper into the career as a profession. In other words, I gave up everything to art.

If you have done any paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say gets your clients to return to you (up to now)?

The quality of my work and my punctuality.

How would you describe your style?

Colourful, whimsical, funny, relatable.

What is an ideal project or scenario for you? Something that would mean the world and connect to something meaningful to you, were you offered it?

I love to work on projects that have a moral in a hidden, enjoyable way. Also stories with magical, imaginary plots or those which involve animals.

Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?

I love working on personal projects, as this is where I have the full creativity to allow myself to experiment freely without restriction. I’m currently studying the Old Masters’ best works, then I recreate each piece from my view and style. I’m also trying to write children’s stories for the first time.

Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would you choose?

Zaha Hadid, Marie Curie, Walt Disney, the Old Masters of art

If you’d like more info, please contact: [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.