Hi, I’m Marloes De Vries (pronounced Mahr-Loose). I work as a writer, illustrator, and artist — basically, if it involves creativity, I’m probably in.

I kicked off my freelance career at the grand old age of 12, picked up a few awards along the way, and still somehow managed to find myself deep in burnout in my twenties and again in my thirties.

I don’t always love freelancing — not because I don’t love the work itself, but because after nearly 28 years I’m still navigating how to deal with the stress freelancing brings me (and my neurodivergent brain) and how to find a good work-life balance.

On my Substack, I mostly write about all of that: the real, messy, beautiful, sometimes tiring reality of creative work. Because writing helps me make sense of it all — and it’s cheaper than therapy.


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Who are you?

My name is Marloes (pronounced ‘Mahr-loose’) De Vries. I grew up in the North East of the Netherlands, in a working class family. Books and art were never mentioned in my family, yet I have been determined to become a painter since I was four years old.

I moved to Rotterdam 11 years ago, a big city where I had more chances of making it as a creative professional. I did make it, like I mentioned above.
I call England my second home: I’m there as much as I can, because it’s the place I feel most at home. North Yorkshire is my favourite.

I recharge my battery by long walks in nature, I love collecting books and reading them (in that order), sharpening pencils, watching British crime dramas, and I’m always in awe of any pink sky.

What do you do?

I draw, paint, illustrate and write, mainly. I’ve been working as a creative professional full-time for over 16 years, but I started working for clients over 25 years ago.
I went to art school, became a graphic designer (although I really wanted to be a painter or illustrator), and took a leap in 2010: I left my job to become an illustrator. I’ve illustrated picture books, non-fiction books (for adults and kids), wrote and drew hundreds of comic pages, wrote a non-fiction book and so much more.
I won awards and from the outside, it looked all well but I overworked myself because I never felt I was doing enough and I didn’t honour my boundaries. Eventually, I burned out and got very ill. I started this Substack to share my experiences and how I’m finding my way back to my creative self.

Read more about me
→ Find me on Instagram: @marloesdevee (illustrations and books) and @marloes.studio (paintings and art)
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Ponderings and pictures by a burnt out artist and writer. Join me if you're into finding balance, connection, rest and creativity.

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Artist and author, spending life in the Netherlands and the UK. Illustrated and authored over 40 (children's) books and written 1 non-fiction book. Sharing candidly about being an artist and creative life.