Logo for Van der Ley Visual Communications
Illustration showing colourful bunting

about me

I help businesses make their conferences and meetings more:

  • effective,
  • engaging, 
  • talked about, and
  • fun!

Read on to find out how I became a graphic recorder, designer and illustrator, what drives and inspires me, and how I can help you create memorable events and eye-catching documents.

Portrait of Megan van der Ley, graphic recorder in Sweden.

Graphic recorder, graphic designer and illustrator

I studied Communications (Public Relations and Organisational Communications) at Charles Sturt University in Australia.

I started my career at a public relations bureau, but moved fairly quickly into marketing and events roles for charities working with environmental issues and mental health services.

One of the highlights of this time was developing film-making workshops and delivering these to disadvantaged young people all over Australia. I even organised a national film festival showcasing their work to other young people.

My roles evolved to focus more on storytelling for internal communications and fundraising support. This included writing and producing the Inspire Foundation’s annual reports, brochures, promotional videos and newsletters.

I wanted to see more of the world so I took time off to travel South America and Europe. After a brief stay in London, where I worked for the BBC. I ended up in Skåne, in southern Sweden. I had always wanted to experience life in another country, and circumstances conspired to keep me here.


I learnt to speak Swedish relatively quickly (I love languages!) but I realised that I needed a communications skill that wasn’t dependent on a perfect mastery of language. 

Visual communications was the answer!

I honed and updated the skills I had from my time as a communications specialist, through formal studies, a very good mentor and many hours of practice. I registered my business and the work started rolling in.

Want to be part of the story? Contact me to get started!

Why not

sign up for my newsletter?

I send it about about once a month. It is the best way to find out about my limited-offer deals and competitions. (Because, as we all know, social media is a fickle friend.)

It’s personal and professional at the same time, peppered with recent work, drawings and sketchbook pages. I always include a few good links to things that are beautiful, thought-provoking or amusing and often give my readers a free image for their private use. 
I respect your privacy and will never ever share your information.

Photo of Megan van der Ley doing digital graphic recording at a conference in Sweden.
Photo of Megan van der Ley, graphic recorder, at a conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Photo of Megan van der Ley, graphic recorder in Sweden, doing digital graphic recording at a conference.
Photo of Megan van der Ley doing graphic recording at a conference.
Illustration showing colourful bunting

what do i care about?

Hand-drawn illustration of a hand picking up rubbish

environment

Let's leave our descendants the world the world they deserve. The environmental issues we are facing are complex and can be hard to understand and impact. On a daily, local basis, I come home from walking the dog with my hands full of litter that I have found on the side of the road.

Hand-drawn illustration of a father and child talking about mental health. A sign in the background says "know thyself".

mental health

My early career in marketing for a mental health non-profit left me convinced that better mental health will make the world a kinder, safer, happier place.
We need to teach our children how to take care of their mental health. In order to do that, we need to teach parents how to take care of THEIR mental health!

Hand-drawn illustration of a meadow and a tree.

the natural world

We were not meant to spend our lives staring at screens. Humans need open fields, green leafy forests, wild animals, muddy puddles and abundant vegetable gardens.
We are not the only ones on this planet that need this to survive and thrive: insects, animals and plants need less concrete and more nature.

Hand-drawn illustrations of three people holding signs with the words ADHD, dyslexic and 2:e on them.

neurodiversity

It is estimated that 25% of people in my part of the world are "different". That's a lot of people who are having trouble at school, work and in social situations. Greater understanding of neurodiversity can help them, and the other 75% of the population too!

Hand drawn illustration depicting community: an elderly woman and a young girl look on as two neighbours greet eachother.

community

Community makes us strong: family, friends, relatives, neighbours, acquaintances, the people you wave to on the street but have never spoken to... these are important. Online community can be helpful too, but I rate real-life connections very highly.

Hand drawn illustration showing a woman with a real body diving from a diving board into the water.

body positivity

We CAN rebel against the harmful ideals that are presented to us. Our bodies are miracles of evolution. Let's use them and enjoy them, instead of comparing them to others.
Freedom!

education

  • BA Communications (Public relations and Organisational Communications, Charles Sturt University, Australia
  • Österlen School of Art and Design, Simrishamn, Sweden
  • Cross Media Design, Runö Folkhögskola, Stockholm
  • Find Your Creative Voice, The Good Ship Illustration
  • Business Course for Creatives, The Good Ship Illustration
  • Live Illustration, The Good Ship Illustration