About

I’m Sylvia, a Dutch artist, illustrator and designer.

After studying fashion design in Nijmegen, I went on to study illustration at St. Joost Academy of Art in Breda. After graduating, I started working as a freelance illustrator and designer.

I specialize in editorial illustration, book illustration, surface design, packaging design and branding.

I’ve collaborated with a wide range of companies and brands worldwide. I’ve created illustrations for magazines, children’s books, greeting cards, patterns for fashion and interiors, and everything in between. www.sylviatakken.nl

Alongside my commissioned work, I create my own artworks. This gives me the freedom to experiment, play and follow my intuition. I love exploring colour, shape and composition, without always knowing where a piece will end up. For me, the process itself is just as important as the final artwork. This part of my work eventually grew into by-ST, a Dutch brand I founded to make my artworks available as high-quality art prints and paintings. A selection of my work is available through my online shop, and I also collaborate with companies and brands all over the world, making my prints available through their online and physical stores.

I find inspiration for my work everywhere. I’m naturally observant and always looking, noticing and collecting little moments of beauty. Nature and the everyday world are full of details that spark my imagination. I love that feeling of wonder you can find in the smallest things — a sense of curiosity, beauty and a little bit of magic. This sense of wonder naturally finds its way into my work.

I love the freedom my work gives me, and it makes me happy that my work has found its way into so many homes and hotels around the world.

All works © by-ST 2026