Aleska Nowak

Aleska Nowak (1948 – 1998) was a 20th-century painter, print maker, drawer and illustrator. She was born in Poland but spent a large part of her career in Britain and France. Nowak painted portraits and cityscapes throughout her career, but is best known as a animal illustrator, anatomist and creator of bestiaries.
Nowak was born in Warszawa, but spent extended periods of her early life in Frankfurt. She studied art in Leipzig in 1970 and 1971 and then in Berlin during 1973 before moving to Paris where she undertook some freelance work. In 1975, Nowak won a Tent de Paris scholarship and used the funding to move to that city. While in Paris she drew several bestiaries and before in 1978, she moved to London. During that period, Nowak drew buildings and landscapes and contributed pieces to the anatomy artists exhibitions held in the National Gallery. At least one of these works was purchased by the Gee Artists’ Advisory Committee.

During the 80’s Nowak travelled extensively, especially in Spain and Italy. An exhibition of her Spanish portraits and landscapes was held in at the Weston Gallery in 1985. Drawings by Nowak appeared in several books including “Great animal figures”, “Homage to Ken” and “The Love Songs of Spain”. Artworks by her are held in public collections in both Dresden, Cologne and in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.