Merel Corduwener (1991) studied Illustration Design at ArtEZ University of the Arts.

She graduated in 2013 and subsequently started working for leading Dutch newspapers such as De Volkskrant, NRC and Het Parool.

Merel’s illustrations strike a balance between humour and poignant social commentary. She likes to tackle a wide variety of subjects, with human interaction as the focus. She incorporates her fascination with the world around her into her works.

Her book Polderpolonaise is a prime example of this, with its in-depth exploration of Dutch identity by means of an illustrative journey through Dutch towns and countryside, looking at the range of annual festivities.

In 2017 Merel was nominated for the European Design Award in the category “Book and Editorial Illustration”. In 2019, her first book Polderpolonaise was published in both Dutch and English.

Merel draws and paints all her illustrations with watercolour and finishes them digitally. This mixed-media approach facilitates her detailed, brightly coloured illustrations.

© photo Marie Wanders