Illustrating Bucharest: An Artist’s View from Within the Community
Imogen Wilkinson, Teacher of Art at our school, brings the same attentiveness and curiosity to her personal artistic practice as she does to the classroom. Recently, she has been illustrating moments from everyday life in Bucharest, capturing the small details that feel personal, familiar and quietly meaningful. What began as a way to unwind alongside a full-time teaching role has grown into a body of work rooted in observation, emotion and lived experience.
Her illustrations have recently found a wider audience through a collaboration with Cărturești, where a series of A4 prints inspired by city life are now available, including at Cărturești Verona. For Imogen, this marks a meaningful moment — one shaped not by spectacle, but by the quiet satisfaction of seeing everyday observations resonate with others.
Within the school community, Imogen is equally committed to sharing her creative process. She recently curated a Work-in-Progress exhibition, inviting students and teachers to display art still in development. Her own contribution reflects how she works: drawing individual elements by hand and later combining them digitally in Photoshop. The resulting wall, arranged almost like a mural, brings together many standalone drawings — often inspired by food — without a fixed narrative. Over time, she hopes this evolving display will expand and gradually form a larger story.
Earlier this winter, Imogen was also present at the school’s Christmas Fair, where she shared a selection of illustrated cards and prints with the community, offering visitors a chance to engage directly with her work. Below, Imogen reflects on her creative voice, her experiences in Bucharest and what she hopes students take away from her lessons.
Your illustrations have such a distinct voice. What usually catches your attention and makes you think, “I want to draw this”?
I’m drawn to anything that sparks a feeling or captures a moment in my day-to-day life. Often it’s food I’ve enjoyed, places I’ve visited or small experiences that stay with me while living here. If something resonates emotionally or visually, it usually finds its way into my work.
The news about Cărturești is fantastic. What went through your mind when you realised your work would be stocked there?
I was genuinely delighted. It’s an honour to have my illustrations carried by Cărturești, and it means a great deal that people connect with what I create. Having a place where others can discover and engage with my work feels incredibly rewarding.
Have there been moments here — places, people or everyday details — that have found their way into your creativity?
Definitely. Taking photos around Bucharest and later translating them into drawings has become a meditative way for me to reflect on living here. Working from personal experiences is essential to my practice; it allows me to document my life in the city and preserve the small details that make it meaningful.
You work closely with Secondary students in Art. What do you hope they take away from your lessons?
I hope my students feel comfortable enough to take creative risks and understand that mistakes are part of the process. Art isn’t about achieving perfection or strict realism; it’s about exploring ideas, problem-solving and discovering a wide range of artistic voices. I want them to enjoy making, stay curious and recognise that inspiration is everywhere. Anything can be art, and everything they produce carries value.
Looking ahead, what ideas or projects — either personally or within the school community — are you excited to explore next?
I’m excited to continue developing my own practice and to guide students through a collaborative project inspired by the way I work. Longer term, I’d love to create an interactive exhibition that reflects the expat experience in Bucharest — something that brings together community, storytelling and creativity.
