Machteld Schouten studied fashion design and fashion illustration at ArtEZ in Arnhem. After graduating, she started as a fashion illustrator but discovered that her passion for design remained. This led her to design work for various brands, both national and international, such as Googi in Australia, Goldie in Italy, and as head designer for Sandwich in Amsterdam.
After a few years, Machteld decided to return to illustrating and her free work. Today she works as a freelance illustrator for clients such as Kaemingk, and designs prints for fashion and interior, including for Forbo.
She also teaches at the academy, ArtEZ, Fashion Illustration and Presentation.
In addition to her commercial work, Machteld also creates her own work, such as scarves and murals, including in the UXUA hotel in Brazil and Bar Kantoor in the Westerpark. Her free work, with a strong focus on portraits, is regularly exhibited. These portraits, numbered instead of named, leave room for your own interpretation. The use of various inks also creates visual layers, allowing new details to be discovered every time. Moreover, working with ink remains a creative challenge due to its unpredictable properties.