My name is Wilfred Hildonen and I was born in 1953 in Finnmark in the Arctic part of Norway, almost as far north as you can get and still be on the mainland of Europe. In spite of coming from Norway, I have not one Norwegian ancestor going back to the 17th century in all directions. Instead, you will find Finns, Sami (the indigenous people of Scandinavia and also Russia) and a few Travellers.
I lived up there until 19
65, when we moved to the south of Norway. Since then I have been much on the move, living around in various parts of the country as well as 4 years in Sweden, 8 years in Finland and 7 years in Portugal, along with shorter periods in Greece, Spain and Brazil. In the autumn of 2006, I returned to Norway, but I continue to work mostly for Finnish media.
I consider myself as an autodidact, although I have two years at an art school in Sweden and one year at one in Northern Norway, between 1982 and 1985.J
I have been working as an editorial cartoonist for the Finnish-Swedish daily newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet since 1992. I illustrate the main editorʼs column 7 days a week and aside from that, one illustration to one chosen letter to the editor. Occasionally I also illustrate feature articles etc. Altogether, it adds up to around 500 drawings per year. In addition to that, I also make a few other illustrations aside from painting.
Thanks to internet, it has been possible for me to continue this job, also while I lived in Portugal and Brazil - and now in Norway.J
And I am still open for other jobs as long as time and capacity allow. In case you need illustrations, please contact me, using the contact form.