Alexandra Nilsson Cockfield

Born in 1974 in the south of Sweden, my love for travel, adventure and the internet brought me across the Atlantic Ocean about three years ago. After spending those years in the way too hot and humid New Orleans, Louisiana, my husband and I and our adopted "Boone" dog recently moved to beautiful Austin, Texas.

I grew up in a small town called Skurup. With no siblings, the family pets soon became my best buddies.
I love being around animals and I have to live close to nature, smell the earth and touch the flowers to feel complete... I think most Swedes are nature freaks by the way :)

I have quite a restless soul.
There is just so much to discover in this world! When I was 19 I went to work for food and board at a Kibbutz in Israel for 8 months. A great experience witch later led me to work at a sheep station in the red Australian outback. I also volunteered with WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) in Australia and with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) in England.

When it comes to drawing animals I’m mostly self-taught. I went to Art School for two years at Glimåkra Folkhögskola in 1999-2000 in Sweden, learning everything from weaving and drawing to ceramics and photography.

When I first came to the US I was not allowed to work, so instead of being bored to death I studied a correspondence course for Veterinary Assistant. During that time I also volunteered at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas as a Naturalist Guide and after earning my Diploma I worked at MSAH, an Animal Hospital in New Orleans for about 6 months.

I actually just started taking my art seriously, after my wonderful mother kept nagging at me for years to draw and paint more dogs, finally I thought I'd give it a go!

I hope you enjoy!
If you want to see my other art that I have for sale, go here.
For more of my earlier work go here.
To view my little tribute page to my late grandfather, caricature artist Östen Nilsson, go here.