My materials
If you are curious about the materials that I use and very much recommend, here is a list to my favourites.
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Brushes
I love Escoda brushes, mainly their travel range, as they are super convenient to travel with, because they fold on themselves and really protect the tip.
This particular kit, I find very handy. The round brush is nice and chunky, so you can do really big washes or pre-wet the paper. In spite of its very big size, the tip always remains very sharp and can do quite a bit of fine detail.
The dagger is perfect for versatility: it is almost like having a rigger because of its very sharp tip but also can use it as a normal round brush.
The flat brush is perfect for shading and straight strokes.
They come with a handy little pouch to keep them together and protected.
ESCODA : SYNTHETIC WATERCOLOUR TRAVEL BRUSH : SERIES 1272 : BLACK SET OF 3
Paper
I have tried a lot of watercolour papers so far, but Canson Heritage seems to be the one I get on with the most and it is the one I certainly use for all of my commissions.
I have found it really hard to paint on non-cotton paper so this was the perfect option for me: 100% cotton, cold pressed and gummed on all sides so the paper remains nice and straight when finished.
CANSON : HERITAGE : WATERCOLOUR PAPER BLOCK : 300GSM : 23X31CM : 20 SHEETS : COLD PRESSED
Watercolour paints
WINSOR & NEWTON : PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR : 14ML : IVORY BLACK
WINSOR & NEWTON : PROFESSIONAL WATERCOLOUR : 14ML : WINSOR RED DEEP
DANIEL SMITH : WATERCOLOUR PAINT : 15ML : NEW QUINACRIDONE GOLD : SERIES 2
DANIEL SMITH : WATERCOLOUR PAINT : 15ML : FRENCH ULTRAMARINE : SERIES 2
From engineering to creative.
Ana began her career in Industrial Engineering and Product Design, spending over a decade designing innovative products and processes in the Medical Device industry. Despite her technical background, she always nurtured a deep passion for hands-on creative pursuits—ranging from sewing, knitting, and woodworking to photography and baking.
During the pandemic, Ana rediscovered her artistic side, picking up a sketchbook and exploring the streets of South London, capturing its architecture and charm through quick, expressive sketches—strongly inspired by the Urban Sketchers movement.
In 2021, she made the bold decision to pause her engineering career and fully dedicate herself to illustration, embracing life as a full-time artist.
The High-Street Project.
Since becoming a full-time illustrator, Ana has created over 190 detailed illustrations of buildings across London and beyond, with a special focus on those that hold meaning for their local communities.
Her ongoing project documents beloved high-street shops, independent businesses, and historical architecture—capturing the essence of each neighbourhood. Through careful research and observation, Ana’s illustrations serve as vibrant snapshots in time, preserving the stories and spaces that shape community identity.
An accidental archive.
“My collection has unintentionally become an archive and a tribute to the ever-changing High Street. Over time, some of the places I’ve illustrated have announced their closure, making the drawings even more meaningful.
I’m grateful to have captured them when I did—now they live on as part of my little illustrated collection, preserved in time.”
A Unique Visual Language
Ana has developed her own style of illustration—one that blends intricate detail with rich, saturated colour to create work that feels both realistic and full of personality.
She uses watercolour, a medium known for its lightness and transparency, in a way that feels a bit unconventional—layering and building it up to achieve bold, vibrant scenes.
What truly brings her work to life, though, are the small imperfections she chooses to include: a chipped bit of paint, a crack in the rendering, or a dangling cable. These tiny details, often barely noticeable, are what tell the real story of a building—and they're Ana’s favourite part to paint.
Celebrating Small Business
As the project grows, Ana has become more and more passionate about highlighting small, independent businesses. She sees them as the heart of our communities—full of character, history, and personal stories. By illustrating these spaces, she hopes to help promote and preserve the unique culture they bring to our streets.
