I come from the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in the north of England, which boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Green rolling hills, sheep, farms, hiking trails, and country pubs abound. After leaving England, I spent the first part of my career working with two non-profit organizations in Africa before moving to the United States where I now live and work on the beautiful shoreline of Connecticut. For much of the last two decades I have been a communications director at Yale University. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations with a focus on Africa.

I have loved art as long as I can remember, drawing prolifically as a child, and continuing to journal my thoughts in art over the years, particularly as it related to my faith. On my global travels I developed a strength in the use of colored pencils–partly because of the ease of transporting them around, often to very remote areas in Africa–but the medium also satisfies my love of color, precision, and detail. My work has always been expressive, colorful, and strongly symbolic, with calligraphic and typographic elements.

The word "illustrate" comes from the Latin "illuminare", meaning to illuminate, or shine light on. I like to think my art illuminates the values that I ponder and hold dear–values like faith, diversity and justice that are without borders. I’m constantly inspired by the wonders of nature and the enduring richness and relevance of sacred words, especially from The Bible.

Thank you for your interest in my work! If you’re interested in any of the work on this website, or in exploring a commission, I’d love to hear from you. Stay in touch by subscribing below, or feel free to email me directly.

– Amanda Patrick