Aurealis Creatief, that's me, Els Bancken
Illustrator. Six winters above the Arctic Circle. Art that brings calm, beauty and meaning to modern interiors.
The Story Behind the Illustrations
For six winters, I lived and worked in Finnish Lapland, far above the Arctic Circle. There, I came to know the eight seasons that the Sami people have distinguished for centuries: from the polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon for weeks, to the midnight sun, which bathes the land in light day and night. I witnessed the Northern Lights in hundreds of different manifestations, learned to appreciate the silence, and became fascinated by how the light colors the landscape and the sky.
That experience is at the heart of my work. My illustrations are not interpretations of someone else’s photographs. They stem from years of living in that landscape, from my own memories of reindeer at twilight, huskies in fresh snow, and the pastel colors of a polar winter morning.
Read The Lapland 8 Seasons Story
Nordic art
What I make
As a digital illustrator I work with a drawing tablet and stylus. No brushes or ink, but the same care for composition, colour and atmosphere. Every illustration emerges layer by layer, often over days or weeks.
My work centres on three themes:
- Nordic & Arctic: Lapland, Lofoten, The North
- Underwater Worlds: the quiet life beneath the surface
- Scottish Highlands: rugged nature, misty mountains, old bridges
Arctic Adventures
Husky sledding, frozen rivers, and nights under the Northern Lights: the experiences that inspire my work.
Underwater world
The quiet life beneath the surface
Scotland & The Highlands
Rugged landscapes, misty mountains, ancient bridges
The originals are printed on art blocks, metal plates, and acrylic glass, in collaboration with a specialized German studio that guarantees museum-quality results.
My work
Who I work for
For private collectors with a love of the North. For interior architects with a Scandinavian signature. And for boutique hotels in the Arctic region looking for art that anchors them to their location.
My longest-running collaboration is with Northern Lights Ranch in Finnish Lapland, where I created custom illustrations for their thirty cabins, hotel merchandise, and an illustrated hotel guide. The artwork hangs in every room, tells the story of the Lappish seasons, and has become an integral part of the guest experience.
Today my work hangs in three hotels across Finnish and Swedish Lapland, where guests can see the pieces in person and take one home.
Where to find my art
CUSTOM WORK
How I work
One piece per name. No endless reproductions of the same image. Each composition is created as an original and stays limited in edition.
Honest about technology. I use AI as a tool where it makes sense, but never as a replacement for the creative process. What that means in practice, I explain openly.
Practical
I work from Diepenbeek, Belgium. Before becoming an illustrator I studied medical social sciences and taught for ten years at KHLim. A detour through web design led to Aurealis Creatief, where I now illustrate full-time.
Over ten years of creative experience in illustration, design and custom projects.
100% hand-drawn
Drawing tablet & stylus
PREMIUM MATERIALs
contact
Let's bring your space to life
Whether it's a custom project for your hotel, a question about a piece of work, or just to say hello: I'll respond personally, usually within one business day.
Aurealis CreatiefEls Bancken
Boudewijnlaan 13590 DiepenbeekBelgiumKeep exploring
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