Drawing Week Brussels returns from 15–21 September 2025, bringing together over 40 illustrators from Belgium and across Europe. This year's lineup spans digital surrealists, botanical watercolourists, comic artists, and urban sketchers. Below we profile eight key participants, highlighting their techniques, influences, and what they will present at the event. For a full schedule, see our Complete Guide to Drawing Week Brussels.

1. Anaïs Vaugelade – Digital Surrealism

French-born Anaïs Vaugelade, based in Brussels since 2018, creates dreamlike digital compositions using Procreate and Adobe Fresco. Her work often features floating architecture and hybrid creatures. At Drawing Week, she will lead a workshop on “Layering Textures in Digital Illustration” (Saturday 20 September, 14:00–16:00, Studio 3, €35). Her exhibition piece, Le Jardin Suspendu, is a 1.2 m × 1.8 m digital print on canvas, priced at €1,200 (limited edition of 10). Vaugelade cites René Magritte and contemporary artist Loïc Prigent as influences. Her prints are also available at Artist Portfolio Showcase.

2. Thomas De Rycke – Botanical Watercolour

Ghent-based Thomas De Rycke specialises in hyper-detailed botanical watercolours, often depicting endangered Belgian flora. He uses Saunders Waterford 300 gsm paper and Winsor & Newton paints. His series Fleurs de la Senne documents 25 plant species found along the Zenne River. De Rycke will exhibit 12 originals (framed, €450–€800 each) and offer a masterclass on “Wet-on-Wet Techniques for Botanical Illustration” (Wednesday 17 September, 10:00–12:30, Atelier 2, €50). He recommends participants bring their own brushes (size 0–4). For beginners, check our Top Workshops for Beginners.

3. Lina Khelifi – Comic Art & Zines

Lina Khelifi, a Tunisian-Belgian illustrator based in Molenbeek, is known for her autobiographical comic strips published in Le Soir and Spirou. Her style combines bold black outlines with flat digital colours. At Drawing Week, she will host a Zine-Making Drop-In (Thursday 18 September, 15:00–18:00, Hall B, free with ticket). She will also sell limited-edition risograph zines (€8–€15) and original pages (€150–€300). Khelifi’s work explores identity and migration; her latest graphic novel Métro Maelbeek (2024, Éditions Sarbacane) won the Prix Atomium. See her full portfolio at Artist Portfolio Showcase.

4. Jeroen Janssen – Urban Sketching

Jeroen Janssen, a founding member of Urban Sketchers Belgium, captures Brussels’ streetscapes in pen-and-ink with watercolour washes. He uses Lamy Safari fountain pens (EF nib) and a pocket Moleskine watercolour notebook. Janssen will lead a Sketch Walk (Saturday 20 September, 09:00–12:00, meet at Place Sainte-Catherine, €20). Participants should bring a stool, water bottle, and sketchbook. He will also exhibit 20 original sketches (€200–€600) and sell a limited print set of 5 (€75). His workshop is listed in our Advanced Sketching Workshops.

5. Marieke Aerts – Charcoal Portraiture

Marieke Aerts, from Antwerp, works exclusively in charcoal on large-format paper (100 cm × 150 cm). Her portraits often feature elderly subjects, emphasizing wrinkles and texture. She uses Nitram charcoal sticks and kneaded erasers. Aerts will demonstrate her technique in a Live Portrait Session (Friday 19 September, 14:00–16:00, Stage 1, free with ticket). She will also offer a paid workshop “Expressive Charcoal: From Gesture to Detail” (Sunday 21 September, 10:00–13:00, Studio 1, €55). Her exhibited piece Oma is priced at €3,500 (unique). For registration tips, see Workshop Registration Tips.

6. Samir Bouadi – Mixed Media Collage

Samir Bouadi, a Brussels-based artist of Moroccan descent, combines cut paper, acrylic paint, and found objects. His work addresses urban displacement and gentrification. He will install a large-scale collage (3 m × 2 m) on the venue’s lobby wall, created live over the week. Bouadi will also run a Collage Jam (Friday 19 September, 17:00–19:00, Hall A, free). His originals range from €800 to €2,500. He uses materials from Papier Plume (Rue des Éperonniers) and paints from Sennelier. Bouadi was featured in our Interview with Featured Artist.

7. Elise Van der Stock – Ink & Line Art

Elise Van der Stock, a Leuven-based illustrator, creates intricate line drawings using India ink and dip pens (Tachikawa nibs). Her subjects are often architectural fantasies inspired by the Grand Place and Atomium. She will exhibit 15 works (A3, framed, €250–€500) and sell art prints (€30–€60). Her workshop “Precision Inking with Dip Pens” (Thursday 18 September, 11:00–13:00, Studio 2, €40) requires participants to bring a ruler and pencil. Van der Stock’s tutorial videos are available on the Drawing Week website. For more on what to bring, see What to Expect.

8. Hugo Nys – Digital Fantasy Art

Hugo Nys, a French illustrator living in Ixelles, specialises in fantasy landscapes rendered in Photoshop and Blender. He uses a Wacom Cintiq 24 and often incorporates 3D models for perspective. Nys will present a Digital Painting Demo (Saturday 20 September, 11:00–12:30, Stage 2) and sell giclée prints (€50–€120). His workshop “From Sketch to Final: Digital Workflow” (Sunday 21 September, 14:00–17:00, Studio 4, €60) is capped at 15 participants. Nys’s work is also featured in our Artist Portfolio Showcase.

Practical Information

All workshops and demonstrations take place at Tour & Taxis (Havenlaan 86C, 1000 Brussels). Tickets are €15 per day (€10 for students) or €50 for a week pass. Children under 12 enter free. For ticket purchase, visit How to Buy Tickets. Materials for workshops are not included unless stated; participants receive a 10% discount at Boes & Co. (Rue des Chartreux 15) upon showing their workshop badge. The full schedule is available at Drawing Week Schedule.

Related articles

  • The Complete Guide to Drawing Week Brussels
  • Drawing Week Schedule
  • Top Workshops for Beginners
  • Artist Portfolio Showcase
  • Interview with Featured Artist