BIOGRAPHY

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full name: Anelia Pashova – APASH
Professional field: Illustration and children’s books
Email: illustration.apash@gmail.com

APASH Illustration and Books
Website: www.apash.bg
Facebook: @apash.illustration
Instagram: @apash.illustration

2. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Anelia Pashova – APASH is an illustrator, author, and graphic designer with professional experience in children’s, classical, and scientific illustration. She works in the field of children’s books and illustrated publications, creating original projects, illustrations, and complete visual concepts and designs for books and educational games.

She runs her own brand and publishing imprint, APASH Illustration and Books, focusing on animal-themed children’s content, original illustrated publications, and educational products. Her professional practice combines artistic creativity, graphic design, and prepress production, with a particular interest in visual storytelling and the potential of illustration to communicate with young audiences.

Her portfolio includes projects developed in collaboration with Bulgarian publishers and cultural organisations, as well as independently produced books and educational games.

3.EDUCATION

2013–2015
Master of Arts in Illustration
National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria

2008–2012
Bachelor of Arts in Book and Printmaking
National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria

2003–2008
Secondary Education in Mural Painting
Tsanko Lavrenov National High School of Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

3. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

September–October 2026 | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

FOUR PAWS Foundation – Bulgaria

• Created a series of 12 original watercolour illustrations for the 2027 calendar.
• Designed and laid out wall and desk calendars.
• Prepared print-ready files for production.

2016–Present | Freelance Illustrator & Founder of APASH Illustration and Books

APASH Illustration and Books

• Create original illustrations for children’s books, educational publications, and products.
• Develop concepts, graphic design, and complete visual layouts for books and illustrated publications.
• Prepare print materials and production-ready files.
• Develop and produce original books, illustrated products, and educational games.
• Manage and grow an independent creative brand, including product presentation and promotion.
• Plan and implement marketing activities and digital visual communication.
• Collaborate with authors, publishers, cultural organisations, and other partners.

2024 | Illustrator

Babche Wines – Australia

• Created three original illustrations for wine label designs.
• Developed an illustration concept aligned with the brand’s visual identity and the characteristics of the product.

2019–2024 | Illustrator

ROLDA Foundation – Romania

• Created original illustrations for greeting cards, T-shirts, and other promotional materials.
• Developed visual content to promote the foundation’s work and initiatives.
• Created illustration concepts supporting campaigns dedicated to the protection and welfare of stray animals.

2019–2022 | Illustrator

The QT – United Kingdom · Selected work

• Created original animal-themed illustrations for children’s clothing.
• Scanned and digitally processed illustrations.
• Prepared print-ready files in accordance with production specifications.

2015 | Illustrator – MILKA Project

Lettersoup – Berlin, Germany

• Developed original illustrations for the MILKA project.
• Created illustrative elements for the visual identity of the company’s original typefaces.
• Integrated illustration and typography to support the project’s visual concept.
• 4. BOOKS AND ORIGINAL PRODUCTS

4. BOOKS AND ORIGINAL PRODUCTS

• 2026 — Do I Want a Dog? — Second edition, second printing. Author: Vesela Genova. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration and Books.
• 2026 — A Dog’s Job — Revised second edition. Author: Vesela Genova. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration and Books.
• 2025 — BIRDS Memo GAME — Educational memory game; original product. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration. The project was realised with financial support from the Creation programme of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria.
• 2025 — Do I Want a Cat? Author: Vesela Genova. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration.
• 2023 — Tonto the Bearded Vultur Author: Donika Rizova. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: Green Balkans.
• 2021 — Dog Kingdom – Playing Card Creator, illustrator, and designer: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration.
• 2020 — Where the Wind Live Author: Anabel Hichil. Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: Pokazhi mi.
• 2018 — Children’s Letters to Go Illustrations and design: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: Omophor.
• 2015 — The Incredible Stories of Bulgaria’s Treasures Authors: Nadia Todorova and Stanka Zheleva. Illustrations: Anelia Pashova – APASH and Stanka Zheleva. Publisher: Easyart Foundation.
• 2015 — Lori’s Time — Three editions, Author, illustrator, and designer: Anelia Pashova – APASH. Publisher: APASH Illustration.

5. EXHIBITIONS

2026 — Solo Exhibition: So EXHIBITION – ARDA — SOHO, Sofia, Bulgaria

2025 — Solo Exhibition: BIRDS Memo GAME — Fox Book Café Cultural Centre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2025 — Participant, 9th Annual Exhibition of DAFNI (Association of Animal, Botanical and Scientific Illustrators) — Regional History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria

2024 — Participant, Illustration Biennale — Serdica Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum, organised by Bulgarian Illustration, Sofia, Bulgaria

2021 — Participant, Book, Illustration and Printmaking — Exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of the Master’s programmes, National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria

2021 — Solo Exhibition: Dog Kingdom Playing Cards — Regional History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria

2021 — Solo Exhibition: Sketchbooks (2014–2021) – APASH Illustration — Gifted, Sofia, Bulgaria

2020 — Participant, Illustration Biennale — Serdica Triangular Tower, Regional History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria

2016 — Participant, Bulgarian Art Festival — Bratislava, Slovakia

2013 — Solo Exhibition: Scientific Illustration — National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria

7. AWARDS

2023 — First Prize, Birds of Prey Illustration Competition, Green Balkans, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

2014 — First Prize, T-shirt Design Competition, Bulgarian Association of Contemporary Graphics and Printing, Sofia, Bulgaria

2008 — Second Prize, National Drawing Competition, Iliya Petrov National School of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria

8. CERTIFICATES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2016 — Participant in the training programme Human Rights Education, Art and Creativity, organised by Arci Chieti in Torino di Sangro, Italy, as part of the Erasmus+ programme.

2015 — Participant in the specialised training programme for teachers and cultural mediators From the Senses to the Museum, organised by the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.

9. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Artistic and Creative Skills

• Traditional illustration
• Animal illustration
• Children’s illustration
• Scientific illustration
• Calligraphy
• Graphic design and prepress production

Visual Content and Marketing

• Product photography and image editing
• Marketing and visual communication
• Development of visual materials to promote products, initiatives, and events

11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

2016–Present — Member of DAFNI (Association of Animal, Botanical and Scientific Illustrators).

2026–Present — Member of Constellation, Association of Children’s Book Publishers, Bulgaria.