Hello and welcome. I am an illustrator and designer trained as a fine artist at the Rhode Island School of Design and Central Saint Martins. I create work that offers moments of lightness, beauty, and a touch of humor in response to the constant noise and negativity of the world around us.

After graduating from RISD, I spent time exploring creative work beyond fine art as an actress and producer, an experience that continues to inform how I collaborate and approach creative briefs. A chance request to design a friend’s wedding invitation eventually drew me back to painting and drawing, and marked the beginning of my illustration career.

My work has been described as whimsical, colorful, a little witty, and full of charm. It’s playful in spirit, but made with care, intention, and a deep love of detail. Greek by heritage, born and raised in London and shaped by many formative years in New York, my work draws on a Greek sensibility, British wit, and an easy confidence that comes from moving fluidly between these three worlds.

I work seamlessly across a range of hand-drawn, painted, and digital media, choosing the approach that best serves each project. My work can be found on everything from bespoke stationery and art prints to fabric, homewares, and wallpaper.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with brands including Missoma, Buggy NYC, Chase Sapphire, Charriol, Elephant Family, Sisley Paris, La Ligne, and Assouline.

Highlights include creating my first ceramic plate designs for an animal conservation ball hosted by the then HRH Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, and seeing my Leopards at Play pattern featured on a London taxi for the launch of Arabian Leopard: Treasures of AlUla by Assouline, where it also appears across the book’s endpapers.

More recently, I collaborated with Buggy NYC founder Buggy Valhouli on a series of printed tablecloths and napkins for her wedding celebrations. The collection translated my Greek-inspired motifs into beautifully crafted table linens, pairing a sense of lightness and whimsy with our shared Greek sensibilities. The project was later featured on Vogue.com.

I’m currently developing a range of art prints, homewares, and clothing featuring my designs. From trays designed to carry your morning coffee to art prints that brighten everyday spaces, the collections will centre around thoughtful, giftable pieces created to bring joy, luck, and lightness into daily life. Watch this space.

Private commissions and creative collaborations are central to my practice. I’m always open to new partnerships and would love to hear from you, so do not hesitate to reach out.

For all inquiries please email: info@mariannak.com  

For licensing inquiries, I’m represented by Bridgeman Art Library

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” – Pablo Picasso.