Marina Rafael

I was born and raised in Cyprus, where I developed an early and enduring passion for both the visual arts and education. I initially pursued studies in Public Relations in Athens, earning my first degree before continuing my academic path in Primary Education at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

My interest in the relationship between art and pedagogy led me to postgraduate studies in Art Teaching at the University of Roehampton in Surrey, London, and later to Fine Arts studies at Central Saint Martins in London.

With more than 30 years of experience in primary education, I have dedicated my career to teaching art to children aged 6–12, nurturing creativity, imagination, and individual expression. My pedagogical journey has profoundly shaped my artistic voice, fostering a deep sensitivity to the authenticity and emotional world of childhood—an element that remains central to my work and has greatly influenced my practice as a children’s book illustrator.

Alongside my teaching career, I have maintained a distinguished presence as a professional painter for over 38 years. My work has been presented in nine solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions both locally and internationally, earning recognition and critical acclaim. I have received several international awards and distinctions for artistic excellence, including the prestigious “Leonardo da Vinci,” “Michelangelo,” and “Pegasus” international prizes, affirming my position within the contemporary art landscape.

My multidisciplinary practice also extends into large-scale mural work. With more than 20 years of experience and over 80 completed mural projects, I seek to transform spaces into immersive visual narratives that
engage and inspire diverse audiences.

Over the past eight years, I have been actively working as an illustrator of children’s books—one of my deepest
creative passions. I have collaborated with publishing houses and authors to bring stories to life through imagery that blends narrative clarity, emotional depth, and imaginative richness. To date, I have illustrated
more than 40 children’s books.

My illustrative work is distinguished by its strong storytelling quality, expressive characterisation, and sensitivity to the emotional world of the child.
In recent years, I have expanded my creative practice into writing, developing original children’s stories
and fairy tales that are currently in progress and forthcoming for publication