Sanna Annukka British/Finnish artist studied at the University of Brighton, which is where her passion for graphic design comes from, and is reflected in her later works. She spent many summers as a child north of the Arctic Circle, and these experiences established a lifelong love and respect for the rawness of the natural world.
After graduating, she became a successful freelance illustrator, working with clients including Vogue, Island Records, Selfridges and Nordstrom. She illustrated three classic books: The Fir Tree and The Snow Queen by Andersen, and The Nutcracker by Hoffmann.
In 2008, she joined the roster of designers for Finnish textile and fashion brand Marimekko, designing interiors and home decor patterns. That same year, the Finnish Design Museum commissioned her to create large textile wall hangings for their exhibition “FennoFolk – A Collection of New Nordic Oddities”.
Her illustrations depict elemental images – the Sun, the Moon, rocks and water – as abstract patterns. Her images are often totemic or talismanic with repeating shapes, expressing the cycle of nature. Annukka’s work encourages us to connect with nature and to enjoy things like feeling the warmth of the Sun on our faces.
