Hélène Jorna

Hélène Jorna was born on August 2, 1964, in Bolsward, the Netherlands. At a young age, she drew everything she saw and created a chapter book with illustrations for her brother, who was five years younger. In 1982, she enrolled in the art academy in Arnhem, studying graphic design. In 1986, she spent three months at the art academy in Hull, United Kingdom, and did an internship at the graphic design department of Dutch national broadcaster NOS. After graduating in 1987, she immediately received freelance illustration assignments. In 1988, she started working as a graphic designer at the design agency Stadium Design, where she designed packaging. She also continued to illustrate. In 2002, she moved with her husband and two children to Apeldoorn to work full-time as an illustrator for various publishers. In 2020, her first book, The Harbor, was published by Clavis. Several more books with illustrations by Hélène were subsequently published. Her work is loose and colorful, and she mostly enjoys drawing people.