Hi! I’m Alison Axland! I’m a watercolor illustrator whose work always includes humor, character, and attention to detail. I grew up in the western United States amongst its wildly varied landscapes and abundant beauty. Now, I live in Barcelona, Spain, where art and a different kind of beauty are built into daily life.

I hold a BFA and an MFA in Costume Design. In my previous career, I achieved 15 seasons as an Assistant Costume Designer and Project Manager for the largest and oldest not-for-profit theater in the United States, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Working in leadership and design at a multi-million-dollar organization deeply ingrained in me the importance of collaboration, creative problem-solving, and respect for competing priorities. While theatre design and illustration may seem like very different disciplines, good design, like a good story, is universal.

I’m a single parent of a neuro-spicy teen and the proud owner of a vintage set of C-PTSD. While I do enjoy baking and reading, I really love sighthounds, Critical Role, and costume history. I’ve reached the age where I can embrace the full range of who I am. I can pair the whimsy with rage, heart-stopping beauty with ruthless efficiency, and compassion with boundaries.