Artist Spotlight Enikő Katalin Eged

drawdeck Artist Spotlight Enikő Katalin Eged

Say hello to Enikő Katalin Eged, a Budapest-based illustrator and pattern designer whose works capture quiet emotions, small familiar details, and the beauty of everyday life. Her art is filled with storytelling, sometimes real, sometimes imagined, but always deeply personal.


In this conversation, she opens up about her creative beginnings, her connection to animals and nature, and how Dubai became a part of her artistic story. At drawdeck, we’re proud to celebrate artists like Enikő. Independent creators who pour heart, craft, and meaning into every work.

Discover Enikő’s collection and bring a piece of her story into your own space.

Enikő Katalin Eged in the streets of Dubai

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how your artistic journey began?


I’m from Budapest, Hungary. I finished my master’s degree at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, where I studied graphic arts and graphic design.

Drawing was always my main form of self-expression growing up. After high school, I actually went to another university first. I studied Hungarian literature and philosophy there. But eventually, I just collected all my courage and applied to an art university because I realized this is almost the only thing that I can really express myself through.

2. When did you realize art was more than just a hobby for you?


It was always my main form of self-expression and I realized that I don’t want to have a 9-to-5 job. I’d rather have the freedom of doing my own art. I started, of course, with different kinds of graphic design work. Besides that, I began freelancing, and now I can do my own illustration as a full-time job.

3. A lot of people are inspired by your art. What does creating mean to you, and what do you usually focus on?


Art has always been my main form of self-expression. It’s part of who I am. If I don’t draw for too long, I start feeling anxious. So for me, art is both expression and release — it keeps me grounded, and it helps me process how I feel.

4. How do you decide on the colors for your artwork?


I think my use of color is mostly intuitive. I have a big range of colors that I’ve been using for years now. Sometimes I try out new contrast colors, but most of my palette stays fixed. Usually, I choose colors based on my emotions.

5. Many of your pieces feature animals. Is there a specific memory or experience behind that choice?


I would rather say not a concrete memory, but the memory of a feeling or emotion. Since I really love drawing animals, for me, it’s a really interesting thing to figure out how I can express my emotions and memories through animals and nature. I think this is how more people can connect to my illustrations. But sometimes there are concrete memories too. For example, the one with the red sea star. It actually happened here in Dubai. I found a red sea star, and I’d never seen anything like that before. It was such a nice memory for me, the color, the texture, and then I made an artwork inspired by it.

Enikő Katalin Eged with stray cats in dubai

6. Tell us about your visit to Dubai. How did the city influence your art?


I made this piece after my first visit to Dubai. The area where I was renting my apartment had smaller buildings. I think it was Jumeirah 1 or somewhere nearby. It was super nice to see all the white-colored walls and streets, and all the cats hanging around. That was my inspiration, to somehow capture the feelings I had when I was walking on the streets.

It was during the summer, so it was super hot, and I really wanted to express that warmth through color.

7. What advice would you give to young illustrators who look up to your work?


One of the most important things is not to get stuck in one graphic language because experimenting is really important. Sometimes it’s hard when you see a lot of illustrators or graphic artists who already have a defined style, and you might feel you need to do the same. But your own visual language should come from the joy of art, not from boundaries you try to define for yourself. So always keep experimenting with different things.

You can still keep your portfolio cohesive through things like color usage, recurring motifs, or similar topics. but always allow yourself to grow. Also, try to find art challenges or pattern challenges on Instagram. It’s a really nice way to connect and do a lot of collaborations.

Enikő Katalin Eged palm jumeirah

8. We’ve also seen that you collaborate on wearable art like t-shirts and fashion pieces. How did that come about?


Yes, I’ve had a lot of fashion collaborations because I do pattern design for brands. It’s really exciting to see how my illustrations can live beyond paper, on fabric, objects, and other forms.

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