Aad Goudappel lives and works in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as a freelance illustrator since 1996. Aad graduated from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam (Netherlands), and also took courses at Camberwell College of Art in London (UK) and the Art Institute in Boston (USA). Over the years, his work has won more than 100 awards, including the prestigious World Illustration Award (gold) Society of Illustrators (silver) 3×3 ProShow (gold and bronze) and Art Directors Club Germany (silver and bronze).

Aad enjoys sharing his knowledge, experience and passion for the profession in lectures, master classes, workshops and as a mentor. Since 2017, he has also been a mentor for the BNO (Association of Dutch Designers).

Although he would love to spend the rest of his life drawing animals, or birds he likes that his clients and audience are very diverse. His work is published around the world in virtually every field of illustration; editorial, institutional, corporate, advertising and book.