ROTTERDAM ILLUSTRATORS PRESENT:
with Nicola at Brand Warrior
7th & 8th March 2026 (Saturday and Sunday)
10:00-16:00, Rotterdam
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TESTIMONIALS FROM 2025
Tania
Moonisa
Call out to illustrators and artists!
Discover how at Through the Trees: a two-day brand retreat for illustrators and artists in Rotterdam and beyond.
Building your reputation and getting your work known is key to building a successful illustration or art business or freelance illustration or art career.
However, in such a busy market, it can be challenging to get your work seen, especially when you work for yourself, and everything is down to you!
Of course, you love the creative side of what you do as an illustrator or artist, but when it comes to the business and marketing side, it’s easy to feel a bit lost and out at sea, which can lead to overwhelm and other negative feelings.
The Through the Trees brand retreat is an opportunity to change this!
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Photo by Angeniet Berkers
Created and led by Nicola at Brand Warrior, who helps illustrators and artists around the world build their reputation through her coaching programme, over one weekend, you’ll go on a journey, which will transform how you think, feel and approach marketing yourself as an illustrator or artist.
With a group of fellow illustrators and artists, you’ll do the deep, brave work that goes into building your own illustration or art brand, that honours your creative individuality and draws in the commissions you actually want.
You’ll pause, step back and reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. You’ll explore who you are and what you stand for in the market, and you’ll figure out and get clear on who you want to talk to and what you want to say.
As you dig deep, unearth and unravel the different roots of your brand, you’ll discover what makes your creative offer unique in the market (hint: it’s not just your art or illustration style!), and you’ll figure out how you can stand out and get your work known, without your marketing feeling like a chore at the end of the creative process.
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Nicola at Brand Warrior. Photo by Angeniet Berkers
Whether you’re an established illustrator or artist or early in your illustration/art career, the Through the Trees brand retreat is an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and reconnect with what truly drives you in your creative business or career.
If any of these things resonate with you right now, then the brand retreat is for you…
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Photos by Angeniet Berkers
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Join us and be part of the Through the Trees brand retreat 2026 cohort.
18 places available
Last year’s retreat sold out with a wait list, so book early to avoid disappointment.
What you get:
Plus, for those who’d like to stay and unwind, we’ll finish Sunday with a casual borrel to celebrate your discoveries and renewed sense of direction.
Dates
7th & 8th March 2025
7th March (Saturday): 10:00 - 16:00
8th March (Sunday): 10:00 - 16:00 with a borrel until 17:00 for those who are up for it.
In total, you will receive 10 hours of coaching with the group + 1 hour of one-on-one coaching with Nicola.
Location:
De Ruimte Voor Ideën
Vijverhofstraat 114, 3032 SP Rotterdam
De Ruimte Voor Ideën is an inspiring location in the monumental Hofbogen of Rotterdam, with lots of daylight, a spacious interior (90m2) and the largest whiteboard in Rotterdam!
It is connected to the design and communication agency Budelinc.
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Price
€550 (ex. BTW)
In total, you will receive 10 hours of coaching with the group + 1 hour of one-on-one coaching with Nicola. As well as snacks, drinks, delicious coffee, tea, delicious lunch adapting to your dietary restrictions.
Note: The workshop fee may be partly reimbursed through Werktuig PPO, a co-financing scheme for professional development in the cultural and creative sector. Please note that participants must apply individually and are responsible for their own application.
Split the cost payment plan
A paymant plan can be agreed if necessary if you want to pay for the retreat in installments.
Please note
The workshop will take place in English. You can take notes and write your reflections in Dutch, Nicola is from and lives in the UK.
All our spots for Through the Trees coaching weekend are booked. If you want to join the waiting list in case someone can’t show up, please fill in this form. Once you fill in the form, you will hear from us within 3 working days.
Please check your spam box if you do not receive an email from us within 3 working days.
The email will be sent from info(at)rotterdamillustrators.nl
18 places available, book early to avoid disappointment!
Who is behind all this?
Nicola Mullen and Rachel Sender are making this workshop happen. They met three years ago through one of Nicola’s coaching sessions. Read their bios below.
Nicola Mullen, Brand Warrior
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Nicola will lead the workshop.
Nicola is a brand and marketing coach and mentor. She set-up Brand Warrior in 2022, when she decided to take her 20 years’ experience working in marketing in the creative industries, and craft it into Through the Trees: her programme, which helps artists and illustrators to build their reputation and get their work out there, without the hard sell.
She has since worked with clients in Australia, Italy, Ireland, Canada, France, United States, the Netherlands and across the UK. All of Nicola’s clients to date, rate her programme five stars and 100% would recommend her one-to-one programme to a friend.
She regularly delivers workshops for the Association of Illustrators and has recently worked as a Mentor as part of their mentorship programme. Nicola is the AOI Meet-Up Host for Drawn In, the meet-up group for illustrators in Manchester, UK.
Instagram: @brand.warrior
Linkedin: Nicola Mullen
Website: brandwarrior.co.uk
Rachel Sender, illustrator, founder of Rotterdam Illustrators
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Rachel is helping coordinate this workshop, which will be led by Nicola.
Rachel Sender is a community builder, educator, and editorial illustrator based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. With over a decade of experience as a practicing illustrator, she is also the founder of rotterdamillustrators.nl, a platform connecting and uplifting a growing community of over 80 local illustrators. Passionate about what illustration can bring to the world and to individual projects, Rachel believes in the power of illustration.
Alongside her practice, Rachel has extensive experience organising community-focused events, including Rotterdam Illustration Festival, Zine Camp, the Delfshaven Design Market, and Rotterdam Illustrator meetups.
She is an educator at the Willem de Kooning Academy and loves working with the future generations of illustrators.
Instagram: @rachelsenderw and @rotterdamillustrators
Linkedin: Rachel Sender
Website: rachelsender.com and rotterdamillustrators.nl
Email info(at)rotterdamillustrators.nl for any questions.
Through the Trees
Brand Retreat 2026with Nicola at Brand Warrior
7th & 8th March 2026 (Saturday and Sunday)
10:00-16:00, Rotterdam
TESTIMONIALS FROM 2025
I truly feel that I now have a road map for my creative business.
Paz
Finally, I’ve found a direction.
Tania
The content Nicola navigated us through in only two days was incredible.
MoonisaCall out to illustrators and artists!
Want to build your reputation and grow a steady flow of clients without feeling overwhelmed by your marketing?
Discover how at Through the Trees: a two-day brand retreat for illustrators and artists in Rotterdam and beyond.
Building your reputation and getting your work known is key to building a successful illustration or art business or freelance illustration or art career.
However, in such a busy market, it can be challenging to get your work seen, especially when you work for yourself, and everything is down to you!
Of course, you love the creative side of what you do as an illustrator or artist, but when it comes to the business and marketing side, it’s easy to feel a bit lost and out at sea, which can lead to overwhelm and other negative feelings.
The Through the Trees brand retreat is an opportunity to change this!
Photo by Angeniet Berkers
Created and led by Nicola at Brand Warrior, who helps illustrators and artists around the world build their reputation through her coaching programme, over one weekend, you’ll go on a journey, which will transform how you think, feel and approach marketing yourself as an illustrator or artist.
With a group of fellow illustrators and artists, you’ll do the deep, brave work that goes into building your own illustration or art brand, that honours your creative individuality and draws in the commissions you actually want.
You’ll pause, step back and reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. You’ll explore who you are and what you stand for in the market, and you’ll figure out and get clear on who you want to talk to and what you want to say.
As you dig deep, unearth and unravel the different roots of your brand, you’ll discover what makes your creative offer unique in the market (hint: it’s not just your art or illustration style!), and you’ll figure out how you can stand out and get your work known, without your marketing feeling like a chore at the end of the creative process.
Nicola at Brand Warrior. Photo by Angeniet BerkersWhether you’re an established illustrator or artist or early in your illustration/art career, the Through the Trees brand retreat is an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and reconnect with what truly drives you in your creative business or career.
Pause and reflect
Learn and develop
Connect and grow
Learn and develop
Connect and grow
Is the brand retreat for you?
If any of these things resonate with you right now, then the brand retreat is for you…
- You’re feeling stuck: you know what you want but don’t know how to get there.
- You’re at a crossroads and don’t know which route to take.
- You’ve lost your mojo and feel disconnected with your work, and you’re looking for a way to feel motivated again and relight the fire within.
- You love the creative side of what you do, but you’re struggling with the business and marketing side.
- You’re craving some in-person support and connection with other illustrators / artists who are in a similar boat.
What do illustrators and artists say about Nicola’s workshops?
Photos by Angeniet Berkers
I feel more confident in the steps that I need to take, and I now know roughly what my purpose is. I am starting to connect the dots and to follow the path I sketched during this journey. Finally, I’ve found a direction.
ManonThrough the exercises, I was able to nail down not only how I would describe my style, but also which clients I want to seek out and who would be a good match. Identifying the who and the why provided a lot of clarity for me, which I’m excited to use moving forward
SofiaI really liked everything about the weekend, it made me think in a way I never have before! There were so many important insights and the questions helped organise my thoughts. I enjoyed speaking with other artists and it was nice to see that everyone needs a path and direction!
Caterina
I truly feel that I now have a road map for my creative business. I feel certain, strong, and ready for this new chapter in my life! You literally helped me "look through the trees" and I now know where home is. Thank you
Paz
Getting it all out on paper in a structured way gave me a new overview and sharing this with like-minded creatives was amazing! Thank you for the weekend, it felt generous and supportive! Feeling confident to take the next steps.
Lybrich
Info & Booking
Join us and be part of the Through the Trees brand retreat 2026 cohort.
18 places available
Last year’s retreat sold out with a wait list, so book early to avoid disappointment.
What you get:
- 10 hours of in-person group coaching and mentoring over the weekend.
- Follow-on one-hour 1:2:1 coaching and mentoring session with Nicola on zoom to help you consolidate and implement your findings from the weekend.
- Your individual creative roadmap, which you’ll complete on the journey and take away with you.
- Coffee made by a professional barista, tea, refreshments and a delicious lunch on both days.
Plus, for those who’d like to stay and unwind, we’ll finish Sunday with a casual borrel to celebrate your discoveries and renewed sense of direction.
Dates
7th & 8th March 2025
7th March (Saturday): 10:00 - 16:00
8th March (Sunday): 10:00 - 16:00 with a borrel until 17:00 for those who are up for it.
In total, you will receive 10 hours of coaching with the group + 1 hour of one-on-one coaching with Nicola.
Location:
De Ruimte Voor Ideën
Vijverhofstraat 114, 3032 SP Rotterdam
De Ruimte Voor Ideën is an inspiring location in the monumental Hofbogen of Rotterdam, with lots of daylight, a spacious interior (90m2) and the largest whiteboard in Rotterdam!
It is connected to the design and communication agency Budelinc.
Price
€550 (ex. BTW)
In total, you will receive 10 hours of coaching with the group + 1 hour of one-on-one coaching with Nicola. As well as snacks, drinks, delicious coffee, tea, delicious lunch adapting to your dietary restrictions.
Note: The workshop fee may be partly reimbursed through Werktuig PPO, a co-financing scheme for professional development in the cultural and creative sector. Please note that participants must apply individually and are responsible for their own application.
Split the cost payment plan
A paymant plan can be agreed if necessary if you want to pay for the retreat in installments.
Please note
The workshop will take place in English. You can take notes and write your reflections in Dutch, Nicola is from and lives in the UK.
Book your spot!
All our spots for Through the Trees coaching weekend are booked. If you want to join the waiting list in case someone can’t show up, please fill in this form. Once you fill in the form, you will hear from us within 3 working days.
Please check your spam box if you do not receive an email from us within 3 working days.
The email will be sent from info(at)rotterdamillustrators.nl
18 places available, book early to avoid disappointment!
Who is behind all this?
Nicola Mullen and Rachel Sender are making this workshop happen. They met three years ago through one of Nicola’s coaching sessions. Read their bios below.
Nicola Mullen, Brand Warrior
Nicola will lead the workshop.
Nicola is a brand and marketing coach and mentor. She set-up Brand Warrior in 2022, when she decided to take her 20 years’ experience working in marketing in the creative industries, and craft it into Through the Trees: her programme, which helps artists and illustrators to build their reputation and get their work out there, without the hard sell.
She has since worked with clients in Australia, Italy, Ireland, Canada, France, United States, the Netherlands and across the UK. All of Nicola’s clients to date, rate her programme five stars and 100% would recommend her one-to-one programme to a friend.
She regularly delivers workshops for the Association of Illustrators and has recently worked as a Mentor as part of their mentorship programme. Nicola is the AOI Meet-Up Host for Drawn In, the meet-up group for illustrators in Manchester, UK.
Instagram: @brand.warrior
Linkedin: Nicola Mullen
Website: brandwarrior.co.uk
Rachel Sender, illustrator, founder of Rotterdam Illustrators
Rachel is helping coordinate this workshop, which will be led by Nicola.
Rachel Sender is a community builder, educator, and editorial illustrator based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. With over a decade of experience as a practicing illustrator, she is also the founder of rotterdamillustrators.nl, a platform connecting and uplifting a growing community of over 80 local illustrators. Passionate about what illustration can bring to the world and to individual projects, Rachel believes in the power of illustration.
Alongside her practice, Rachel has extensive experience organising community-focused events, including Rotterdam Illustration Festival, Zine Camp, the Delfshaven Design Market, and Rotterdam Illustrator meetups.
She is an educator at the Willem de Kooning Academy and loves working with the future generations of illustrators.
Instagram: @rachelsenderw and @rotterdamillustrators
Linkedin: Rachel Sender
Website: rachelsender.com and rotterdamillustrators.nl
Email info(at)rotterdamillustrators.nl for any questions.