Valpuri Kerttula
Hello! I am Valpuri Kerttula, an illustrator and creative designer from Lahti, Finland. I get excited about creating characters and their world and telling a story with my illustrations. My style is insightful and full of colours and gentle humour. Expressionate, a bit oddball human and animal characters are my jam. I also greatly enjoy illustrating nature themes, botanical motifs, portraits, maps and hand lettering. I am a careful and friendly person to work with and I always stay on schedule.
I have worked with several international clients in publishing, magazines and portrait commissions. I am fluent in Finnish and English. I work at my own company as a freelance illustrator and designer for clients and publishers. I also design and sell my own stationery, art print and jewellery range at retailers, my own webshop and at various design events around Finland. My calendar has room for more new projects so please don't hesitate to get in touch!
I am experienced in illustrating children's non-fiction, picture and school textbooks. I also design and sell my own range of art prints, cards, jewellery, stickers and stationery. For clients I have done portraits, maps, LP covers, posters, packaging, invitation cards and editorial illustration. I have an illustration degree from Edinburgh College of Art. I work mainly digitally.
Ivy Kids / Quarto publishing, WSOY (publisher), City of Lahti, Lahti Academy of Liberal and Fine Arts, Lasten keskus (publisher), Karisto (publisher), Sanoma Pro (publisher), A-Lehdet (magazine publisher), Pääkaupunkiseudun partiolaiset (Scouts of the Helsinki metropolitan area), The List UK magazine, Other creative agency, Matchbox Cineclub (indie/cult film exhibitor), Fuzzystar (band), PAS Scotland (Planning Aid Scotland), Eevan Hunajaa (Beekeeper, honey farmer)
"Thank you so much for the illustrations, they look so great and the material is very versatile to use ❤"
-Noora Oluikpe, content coordinator, Lahti city library
"The illustration looks super duper, Yes! Oh my gosh you're good :) Is your spring looking very full if I would order some more illustration work?"
-Johanna Junkkari, Scout group coordinator, Helsinki metropolitan area scouts
"Dear Valpuri, It’s been a pleasure to work with you, and I hope we can continue to work together soon."
-Hanri van Wyk, Senior children's book designer, Ivy Kids / Quarto publishing
The pets / My project
My own project of which I made postcards and prints from. Available to purchase as A5 and A4 prints and A6 postcards from myself. The cat and budgie characters also available as laptop stickers and birch plywood jewellery. Image available for lisencing.
The pets / My project
Click to see more about the project.
The pets / My project
My own project of which I made postcards and prints from. Available to purchase as A5 and A4 prints and A6 postcards from myself. The cat and budgie characters also available as laptop stickers and birch plywood jewellery. Image available for lisencing.
Puffer fish / My project
My own project and response to the word ”light” for Pahasiskokerho’s Instagram illustration challenge. The main character of this illustration is a pufferfish called ”Pörrö” who lives in Sealife Helsinki and is one of the most ”famous” fish at the aquarium. Image available for licensing.
Puffer fish / My project
Click to see more about the project.
Chocolate box design competition entry
My entry to Karl Fazer Collection chocolate box design competition for the festive season. The client wanted the pattern and theme to convey a festive feeling and show some northern magic as well. My entry got shortlisted to the top 10. Pattern available for licensing (apart from the client logo).
Chocolate box design competition entry
Click to see more about the project.