Overview

One of Portugal’s leading fashion illustrators, António’s work is based on his profound drawing skills. For many years he was a drawing instructor at a university in Portugal, and today he continues to give private tuition alongside creating his beautifully detailed images.

Love is the emotion that drives António – both a love of his work and love in his life. His inspiration comes from a whole range of sources – books, magazines, fashion, music, animals, flowers, the sun, rain, colours and his mother, who taught him to draw all those years ago. Take him to a gallery with work by Botticelli, Rauschenberg, Hockney, Tillmans and Kapoor, and he’ll be happy.

“Traveling makes me dream, eating makes me smile, falling in love makes me the happiest man on Earth,” he says.

Training

António has a degree in Fine Arts - Painting from the University of Fine Arts, Porto.

Approach

After researching his image, António begins with sketches of the face and then draws the clothing. After that, he finds the right match and brings the composition together. The image is finished off using watercolour. “I love the colours, the shades, the transparency – I think watercolour reflects my mood and love for my work,” he says.

Style

The subtle, nuanced expressions on the faces of the models in António’s illustrations are offset by detailed representations of the garments, with strong use of colour. His images have something to say, and he looks for a sense of love and romance. This is what he believes drives the facial expressions in his work, and it’s what characterises it.

Client List

• Joyce
• Merrel
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Pull & Bear
• Glow Magazine
• Camara Nazionale della Moda Italiana
• Luís Onofre
• Nuno Baltazar
• The New Yorker
• Vogue China
• Marie Claire
• The Guardian
• Pelcor
• Delta Cafes
• Karl Lagerfeld
• Chanel
• Fendi
• GlossyBox