My Story

Hi, I’m Heleen, a freelance surface pattern designer and illustrator living in sunny South Africa. In a world where patterns weave through the fabric of everyday life, I love telling stories through pattern and design and creating work that evokes emotion.

With a background in textile design, my creative journey hasn’t always followed a straight path. When the textile industry shifted dramatically, I once believed my creative career had unravelled. Then I discovered surface pattern design — a revelation that reignited my passion. With digital tools in hand, I began again, not by discarding the past, but by weaving it into something new.

I have always loved drawing and creating with my hands. Like many of us, life happened, and personal challenges led me into administration work for several years. While it taught me valuable skills, I always felt something was missing. When I picked up my pencils again, little by little I found my way back to art. That’s when I decided to truly follow my passion and build a career around my creativity — and I’ve never felt more fulfilled.

Creating art fills me with joy, and I hope to share that joy with others through my work. I enjoy studying the delicate balance of shape, colour, and texture, and expressing this through pattern design. Whether through bold geometric forms that reflect nature’s unpredictability or soft floral patterns that capture gentle movement, my work celebrates both the natural world and human creativity.

My deep love for nature began in childhood, spent climbing trees, studying wildflowers, and collecting leaves in the countryside. These experiences continue to shape my designs today. You’ll often find me walking through nearby landscapes, photographing interesting plants, colours, and textures to inspire future creations. I also love visiting parks, botanical gardens, and flower shops, drawing creative energy from these spaces.

Nature is my greatest inspiration. Its shapes and textures always catch my attention and spark creativity. I feel most peaceful and grounded when I’m in nature, and that is what I try to express through my patterns — a sense of peace, connection, and natural flow.

In 2025, I created my first hand-drawn colouring book, "Ant-Astic Adventures". You can explore it on my Portfolio page.