My name is Ilona Tukkiniemi. I’m originally from Finnish Lapland but have been living abroad most of my adult life. I’ve been calling Iceland home since November 2017, and I absolutely love it. The unique and raw Icelandic nature is an endless source of inspiration, and in my spare time I enjoy long hikes with my dog Nashi, or riding through lava fields with my Icelandic mare Stund.

As an artist I am entirely self-taught. I drew a lot as a kid and a teenager, but then life took my to new countries and places and I pursued a career in IT and stopped drawing entirely for about 10 years. Finally at 30-something, I picked up my pencils again and rekindled my passion for drawing. I posted my first drawings on Instagram in 2019 and got my first ever commission requests shortly after. Just being able to portray my clients’ much beloved pets and capture their characters on paper is for me a dream come true!