Rotterdam city artist - Biography

I am Jeffrey, city artist of Rotterdam. My passion for drawing started at an early age and led me to study in graphic and media design at the Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam, and later to the Art Academy in Antwerp. Nowadays, I work as a visual artist and my drawings of Rotterdam are known for their quirky, detailed and cheerful style.

In addition to my work as a visual artist, I organise, with others, monthly drawing afternoons with the Urban Sketchers Rotterdam. Through this, we aim to tell the stories of our city and connect people through creative activities.

As a city guide, I also give I draw drawing tours in Rotterdam and Schiedam. My work is part of private and corporate collections at home and abroad. I have exhibited in the Stationshuiskamer, Markthal, Kunsthal and Tent Rotterdam. My cityscapes are for sale at, among others. Donner bookshop, Stayokay Rotterdam and the Rotterdam Maritime Museum.

Feel free to contact me! Whether it's for an assignment, a workshop or just to say hello, here are my contact details.

Jeffrey de Bruin – Artist statement

“As an urban sketcher, I am fascinated by the people and buildings that shape our cities. My drawings are organic and full of life, with an eye for detail, feeling and humour. I like to give buildings and machines an animal or human look and work with colour, contrast and whimsical lines. I usually draw on location and from observation, responding to my surroundings with watercolour, gouache paint, pencil and pen. My style is inspired by my love of comics and urban sketching.

My goal as an urban sketcher is to make people happy with my work. In a world that already has enough negativity and fear, I want to offer people a moment of joy and escape. I hope my drawings can inspire people to (re)discover the beauty and vibrancy of their own surroundings. In the future, I hope to share more stories about my city, big & small.“

View here my complete CV.

Jeffrey de Bruin – CV

Art collections and commissions

Private

2024

Gouache painting ‘Greetings from Rotterdam North’ (July)

Gouache painting ‘Greetings from the Rotterdam East’ (July)

Gouache painting ‘Greetings from the Rotterdam South’ (July)

Gouache painting ‘Greetings from the Rotterdam West’ (July)

Home and family portrait (May)

2023

Birthday gift Rotterdam (January)

Original painting The Hef (January)

2022

Wedding gift Dudok in het Park and the Euromast (September)

House and family portrait as a memento of both their homes (August)

Graduation gift training ophthalmologist, Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam (March)

Corporate

2022

Two posters for the art education project ‘Talking ships’, Rotterdam Maritime Museum (August)

Jubilee gift alderman of Rotterdam municipality (February)

2021

Cover Uitagenda Rotterdam November/December 2021, Rotterdam Partners (November)

Illustration, Rotterdam Partners

Illustration, Rotterdam. Make it Happen

2020

Facebook Business email banner, Facebook NL (LVTPR)

Facebook Community e-mail banner, Facebook NL (LVTPR)

One cover and six chapter illustrations, Facebook Community City Guide Rotterdam, Facebook NL (LVTPR)

2019

Jubilee gift for the Centraal Bureau voor de Rijn- en Binnenvaart, commissioned by the Vereniging van Waterbouwers

Parting gift for the director of the Vereniging van Waterbouwers

Christmas card for the relations of the Vereniging van Waterbouwers

Press

2024

Atos Radio: I draw Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht

2023

(Re)discovering Schiedam by drawing: ‘While drawing, you notice things you don't normally see’

Exploring the city while drawing: ‘Most people keep their drawing themselves

Onder Ogen: the largest terrace, drawing the city and switching live to IDDF

Insider tip! This special city tour will make you look at Schiedam differently

Insider tip! This special city tour will make you look at Rotterdam differently

I draw Crooswijk – De Ster Online

2021

Flow Magazine - What are you doing? Number 7 2021

2020

LocalTraveler: 7x The nicest Airbnb Experiences in South Holland

AD.nl: Facebook reveals Rotterdam's gems in new city guide (and it's also on paper)

De Havenloods: City artist Jeffrey de Bruin draws Rotterdam

In de buurt.nl: While drawing Rotterdam through: Jeffrey de Bruin puts the city on paper

In de buurt.nl: Facebook comes out with a Rotterdam city guide (and it's fun even if you already know the city)

Open Rotterdam: Rotterdam Facebook Communities create city guide

Rotterdam Info: Facebook Gemeenschappelijke Stadsgids!

ELLE: Hotspots in Rotterdam: this is how you'll never have to look for them again

AD.nl: Jeffrey draws on it with Urban Sketchers Rotterdam

Points of sale

Kunstuitleen Rotterdam

Maritime Museum Rotterdam Museum Shop

Dutch Museum Gift Shop

Want to become a reseller too? Then contact me. I am always interested in new points of sale.

Artist residencies

2020

Côté Verger – Chambres d’hôtes en Camping in Dordogne, France.

Education

Drawing, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (Kaska dko)

Tourism Management, Hogeschool Inholland

Multimedia Producer Diploma, SAE Institute Rotterdam

Media design (Graphic design), Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam

Exhibitions and publications

2024

Spotlight: Jeffrey de Bruin, Kunstuitleen Rotterdam (July)

2023

Colourful Rotterdam from north to south, Niffo Galerie (August)

Exhibition 701 (art for Ukraine), Rotterdam Art Week (February)

Waiting together Municipality of Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam (September 2022 to present)

2021

Birthday calendar Rotterdam painted by Jeffrey de Bruin (November)

Publieke werken Rotterdam 2021, Maastunnel and throughout the city (1 July to 1 August)

Poetic window-walk exhibition WERKLICHT#FENIX I, Fenix 1 (12 June to 4 July)

2020

Boerenzij, Tent Rotterdam (October 11, 2019 through January 12, 2020)

2019

City ​​drawings, Stayokay Rotterdam (permanently)

City ​​drawings, Stationshuiskamer Rotterdam Centraal (permanently)

City ​​drawings, Rottiedam (permanently)

Pica Pica Winterparade, Markthal Rotterdam (12 January to 9 February)

Workshops

2024

I draw Family drawing tour (customisation)

2023 – 2019

I draw Rotterdam drawing tours

I draw Schiedam drawing tours

2023

Museumnacht Kids Utrecht, Het Utrechts Archief

I draw Crooswijk, Colourful Rotterdam from north to south

Bespoke drawing tour I draw Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Cultureel Centrum Cascade

2022

Bespoke drawing tour I draw Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Cultureel Centrum Cascade (25th anniversary)

Bespoke drawing tour I draw Katendrecht, Cross Comix Festival

Workshops ‘Maritime sayings imagined’ (Talking ships) at the Maritime Festival, Rotterdam Maritime Museum

Art fairs

2024

Chinese market, Rotterdam Chinese New Year (February)

2023

Vintage aan de Maas, Oase Rotterdam (December)

Oogstmarkt Noordplein, Rotterdamse Oogst (December)

Art market Capelle, Art circle Capelle (September)

Little C(aricatures), Montmartre aan de Coolhaven

2022

Montmartre aan de IJssel, Leefgoed de Olifant (Pentecost weekends 2018, 2019 and 2022)

2020

Art Blaak House (drawing performance), Blaak House (February 8)

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