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Hi - My name is Ulrike Mieke, I’m a freelance Illustrator from South Africa currently living in Brighton, UK with my husband.

I love drawing little humans capturing everyday moments through observational and memory drawing. Working primarily by hand using pencil and gouache, I love adding storytelling to a wide range of commissions and clients, from branding, editorials, maps to children’s books. 

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When I'm not drawing, you can find me teaching at BIMM University in Brighton, hosting a Walk and Draw or having a dig in my garden!

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Represented by Georgia the Bright Agency​

Headshot of South African Illustrator Ulrike Mieke based in Brighton. Open to illustration commissions in animals, picturebooks illustration, editorials, early readers.
Association of Illustrators
Logo of SCBWI
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Awards

Shortlisted for Northern Illustration Festival Award, 2025

Shortlisted for Communication Art Award, 2025

Merit Award for iJungle Awards 2025

All things Red, Longlisted for The Unpublished Showcase, Picturebook Makers, 2024 

Selected for Cheltenham Illustration Award, Future Forecasts, 2024

Exhibitions

Northern Illustration Festival Award, ‘Stories of Home’, Hartlepool Art Gallery.

'Save the Oceans' Exhibition, ArtWave, Lewes

Cheltenham Illustration Award Exhibition, Sixteen Gallery, Cheltenham & Stroud, February, June 2025

Gradex Exhibition, Stellenbosch University, 2018

Books

Maddie and the Night, Imagnary House Cape Town 2021 (Self-Published)

The Boy who only ate Pancakes, BookDash 2021

Press

CreativeBoom Feature 2023

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Women of the City Blog 2020

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Women of the City Article 2020 - View Article

 

Stellenbosch University 2018 

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Ja magazine 2019 â€‹

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Talks

Guest Speaker at Brighton University, Professional Practice for The Design Kids, December, 2024

Guest Speaker on Professional Practice, Stellenbosch University 2023

Workshops

Walk and Draw, Sketchbook Workshops, Ovingdean & Rottingdean

Kids Summer workshop, Charleston in Lewes

Testimonials

I really enjoyed working with Ulrike. I was under the impression that I could do my branding and website myself since I had the time but I was sorely mistaken. Having an idea is one thing, but implementing it proved to be more a lot more difficult. I loved that Ulrike really listened to what I had in mind. She was able to bring in all the aspects I asked of her and to create a branding image I imagined but had no idea how to put in place. She took the time to get to know me and what exactly it was I was looking for and in what direction I wanted my business to go. She was always available for all my questions and flexible to any changes I wanted to make. Ulrike does a really great job and her prices are very reasonable. I hope to get the chance to work with her in the future.

- Natalie Bester Branding & Web Design

 

Selected Clients

WOTC
Stellenbosch University
Hale Hair Salon
SCORE
TeeMill
ProLight
Karoo Felt
Hope through Action
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