Maya Rosa — Illustrator & Visual Artist
Pictures for stories, people & good ideas.
London / Lisbon
Est. 2018
Hello, I'm Maya. I make images about people, places and everyday strange things.
Working at the intersection of editorial journalism and personal narrative, I create visual languages that simplify complex emotions into bold, tactile forms. My practice is rooted in observation—collecting gestures, colors, and quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
Alfama Afternoons
Personal / 2024
Literary Giants
Commission / 2023
Flora Study
Sketch / 2024
Midnight at Bar Bruno
Editorial / 2024
Featured Story
The City After Six
A visual essay commissioned by Common Magazine exploring the shift in London’s energy as the workday ends. A study of shadows, artificial light, and the commuters who vanish into the underground.
People I've met. And some I haven't.
Characters collected from trains, cafés, dreams and questionable observations.
“A good illustration says something words can’t.”
Drawn for Words.
Culture & Identity
Visualizing the complex layers of modern belonging.
The Shared Table
A series on the ritual of eating together across cultures.
Internal Landscapes
Mapping the quiet architecture of the mind.
Art Prints & Posters
Slow Sunday
Grow Wild
Keep Looking Up
The Journey
Made for Others.
Commercial Collaborations
The Quiet Pine / Cover Illustration
Larch Books
Issue 14: Community Spirit
Common Magazine
A Morning Brew / Campaign Visuals
Kettle Row
Single Origin / Limited Edition Wrapper
Cacau Alto
From Scribble to Final.
01. Rough
02. Sketch
03. Color
04. Final
A little about me.
Born in London, currently splitting my time between a drafty studio in Hackney and the sun-soaked tiles of Lisbon. My work tries to keep the patience of fine art observation while staying open to everyday readers.
When I’m not drawing, you’ll find me searching for the perfect espresso or haunting second-hand bookstores for old maps and botanical guides.
Larch Books · Kettle Row · The Weekend Ledger · Common Magazine · Cacau Alto ·
Notes & Other Thoughts.
Why I still start on paper
Process / March 2026
The beauty of forgotten books
Inspiration / Feb 2026
Finding color in grey days
Lifestyle / Jan 2026