Marjolein Bastin

From her earliest days as a toddler lying in the grass near Utrecht, The Netherlands, Marjolein has been captivated by nature. She collected pinecones, seeds, and flowers as a child, and as soon as she could hold a pencil, began capturing nature's beauty in her art. "It was my way of holding forever the impression I loved so much in nature," she says.

After studying at the Academy of Arts in Arnhem, Marjolein's work gained recognition and is now enjoyed worldwide. She partners with Hallmark, contributes to the Dutch magazine Libelle, and creates children's books featuring her beloved character Vera the Mouse. Through her detailed nature paintings and personal observations, she offers people a reminder to pause and find serenity in the natural world.

Marjolein and her husband Gaston live between homes in Holland, Switzerland, Missouri, and the Cayman Islands, with each location inspiring her art. Her daily routine includes long afternoon walks to gather ideas and flowers for her worktable, where she paints from early morning into the evening, bringing her relationship with nature full circle.