Being born to a mother & father who were artists and with a surname like Drew suggests it was Ilona’s destiny to be creative.
After moving through art college, completing a BA ( Hons ) in Surface Pattern & MA in textiles focusing on computer aided design, Ilona  began her career at a greeting card publishers designing greeting cards for the high street, a move to a publishers on the south coast relocated Ilona to Brighton and in 2009 Ilona went freelance and began working under the name of I Drew This.
Ilona worked with a number of larger publishers including Camden Graphics, Paper Rose, Uk Greetings and sold textiles designs in the UK & US before taking her first stand at PG Live in 2013. Working with mixed media, her pieces evolve often beginning with just one block of colour. When creating she is always accompanied by music and it is important her pieces have depth, originality and carry the viewers eye.
Her ranges have a strong connection with her life inspired by her surroundings (Ilona lives and works in Brighton) her daughter or personal elements of her life to date. A defining moment in her life so far was being awarded Best Art in the 2016 industry awards The Henries. ‘Having worked so hard to establish myself as an artist whilst growing a business on my own, the recognition was very important.
I now have a platform to build upon and a supportive network of stockists whose customers I know love my work.’ I Drew This is now stocked in over 200 retailers around the UK including St Pauls, Edinburgh Castle, Museum of London, Mall Galleries, Paperchase, Fenwicks, Exeter Cathedral and the British Airways i360.
