About
I am Nicole Álvarez, a Latin American Illustrator part of SCBWI. "Nicole Almendrada" is my registered artistic name.
I've born in Chile, lived a few years in the UK, and recently moved to Poland. I am married to a Physicist, and we are proudly parents of three wonderful senior cats.
My dream projects are: fiction and non-fiction Picture books, surface illustration and character design. My aim is to bring peace, hope and joy, but also, showing complex emotions in my illustrations. I love portraying animals, nature, magical realism, and Christian beliefs.
My favourites illustrators are: Beatrix Potter, Shaun Tan and David Wiesner.
Working Background
I've worked almost a decade in Education, first imparting Art lessons for teenagers in a vulnerable school in Chile, and later working as Support Assistance in a SEND school in the UK. Both experiences gave me a completely new view about children and their needs. Before and after, I worked part-time as illustrator, making from posters, graphic elements for e-learning to storyboards and portraits.
Since 2024 I worked as full-time freelance projects for private companies: illustrated Greeting Cards, Puzzles, Playing Cards, and for Publishing Houses illustrating Books Covers and reading / activities interiors.
I am actively involved in the Spanish Committee of SCBWI, managing their social media and creating useful content for the Spanish-speaking community.
Educational background
· Digital Illustration (DUOC UC, Chile, 2010)
· Educational Degree in Visual Arts (Universidad Los Leones, Chile 2019)
· Illustration in Publishing Industry course (Universidad Católica, Chile, 2025)
· Children's Illustrators Playbook course (Inkygoodness, 2026)
Clients
ACES (Argentina) · Little Thoughts Press Magazine (US) · Settle Stories (UK) · Ediciones SM (Chile) · La Puzzlera (Chile) · Universidad de Chile (Chile)
