Laura Alderson

Laura Alderson is an American illustrator based in Turin, Italy. She grew up in the southern US, where she roamed outside without adults, dressed her dolls in improvised historical costumes, and skipped gym to draw book cover posters for the school library. Later she studied painting and interior design at the University of Georgia, took oil portraiture classes, worked as a designer and portraitist, and then lived in NYC for many years where she raised her daughter. She and her family moved to Italy in 2011.

Laura usually works a combination of watercolor and digital media. She enjoys everything about illustrating, from the conceptual aspects of a book down to the smallest supporting details. She is inspired both by humor and mystery, and by the very different places she has lived.

When not creating art, Laura’s favorite place to be is on top of one of the mountains near Turin, perhaps in a castle or an abbey, eating polenta, or walking part of the Via Francigena.