Photography: Alana Landsberry
One of the smartest decisions Alexandra Nea Graham made when renovating her 1950s home was transforming the garage into a light-filled studio space. “Being able to work from home is a joy,” she says. “My studio has beautiful French doors that open onto the front verandah overlooking my rose and lavender garden beds.”
At a glance
Who: Alexandra Nea Graham, known as Alex, a designer and illustrator.
What she does: Freelances for a variety of businesses.
Where: From her home studio – see the full tour of her Sydney abode.
Why she does it: “I’ve always loved drawing, creating and designing.”
Visit: alexandranea.com.au, @alexandra_nea.
A talented freelance illustrator and designer, Alex embraces a wide range of commissions. “Food, fashion, animals, botanicals, cars, homes, landscapes, buildings… I will illustrate anything!” she enthuses. “I work from scratch, they’re all hand-drawn. I’m not a digital artist and fairly un-tech savvy at the best of times.”
That passion for drawing has always been with her. During a flourishing career as a fashion designer she successfully ran her own label, which was stocked in boutiques worldwide, and worked for the likes of Collette Dinnigan and Little Joe Woman. But it was during maternity leave with her first child that she reconnected with her artistic roots. “I picked up my pencils and started illustrating just for me again,” she recalls.
“Over time, my style has become more intricate and realistic. I’ve spent my lifetime honing it.”
Alexandra Nea
A blog followed, and when she began sharing her illustrations of pop culture moments on social media, the response was immediate. “My illustration of Harry and Meghan’s wedding made the front page of The Mirror and The Daily Mail,” she remembers. “Then Lady Gaga shared my illustrations of her from The Met Gala and it just snowballed.”
Today, time for personal projects is scarce as her client list continues to grow. Luxury brands Bvlgari, Fendi and Tory Burch have all sought out her talents, her fashion illustrations have graced Westfield store fronts and she has lent her artistic touch to packaging for a deluxe skincare company.
Nestled in a quiet, leafy street on Sydney’s North Shore, Alex’s home is a hive of creativity. It’s where she lives and works with husband James, their two children, Sam and Ellie, and their chocolate Labrador, Dolly. It also serves as a location for photo shoots. “Some days may see the whole house filled with photographers, make-up artists and creatives buzzing around, capturing their own magic,” she shares.
Other days, the pace slows. Alex finds her rhythm in the studio, music playing softly in the background, flipping through magazines for inspiration or strolling through the garden to gather samples to draw. “I can be at my desk for hours if immersed in a piece,” she says. “It can be almost like a form of meditation.”
For Alex, doing what she loves is a gift. “I have sort of fallen onto this road of my career for now,” she says. “It’s a very winding journey and, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea where it will take me next.”
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