Remko Heemskerk is a freelance illustrator and designer based out of Haarlem, Netherlands. In 2012, Remko took a 6-month sabbatical from his 15 yearlong career at a Dutch advertising agency and ventured west with his wife to the Big Apple. Loud sirens, big crowds, and tall buildings quickly became an oasis of creative inspiration. Remko began taking pictures around the city – buildings, water towers and entire streets – to later illustrate them, but with a new vibe. Using Photoshop and Illustrator as his main tools and the energy of the city as motivation, he rediscovered his passion to create without deadlines or marketing schemes. He added vibrant color to normally grey buildings and imagined new perspectives for the bustling city streets. After finishing the series Remko published his works on Behance, where his bright interpretation of the City of Dreams quickly captured the attention of artists and urban lovers around the world. Now back in the Netherlands, Remko still illustrates the city for NYCgo (NY’s tourism office), all the while working on diverse projects for clients and friends.
