About me

I’m Eugene Smolenceva, a children’s book illustrator based in St. Petersburg. I create warm, colorful and detail-rich worlds filled with expressive characters — from picture books and covers to book series and interactive publications. More than 35 books featuring my illustrations have been published, and my work has reached readers in Russia, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

I especially enjoy projects where illustration becomes part of how a book works. I’ve created personalized stories, scented and tactile books, interactive fold-outs and activity formats. For each project, I think beyond the individual image: about the rhythm of the story, the personality of its characters, the small details children will discover and the production constraints that shape the finished book.

Books I’ve illustrated have received international awards and finalist recognition. My work on the storytelling game Storytailors was recognized with the Graf Ludo award for children’s game graphics and by juries across Europe. I collaborate with publishers and independent authors around the world and am always happy to meet a story that deserves its own visual world.