Wilma van den Bosch was born on 13 November 1956 in Welland, Ontario (Canada) and now lives in Ede, the Netherlands. She is a Dutch comic artist and illustrator, known for her cheerful and colourful drawing style.

Wilma spent her early childhood in Stevensville, a small village in Canada. At the age of ten, she moved back to the Netherlands with her family. After secondary school, she studied art education for two years, but soon realised teaching was not her calling. Inspired by the work of Charles M. Schulz and Dr. Seuss, and encouraged by an interview with comic artist Morris in de Volkskrant, she decided to pursue a career in comics.

Career

In 1984, Wilma began working for Donald Duck magazine, where she not only drew but also wrote Disney comics. From 1985 to 2017, she was a regular artist for the Vrolijk Weekblad, contributing to magazines such as Disneyland, Katrien, Donald Duck Junior, Tina and Bobo.

In 1999, her first Princess Aster comic, The Light of Eureka, was published as a serial in Donald Duck. The album adaptation went on to win the Stripschappenning for Best Dutch Youth Album. In 2001, her second Aster story, Madam Zora’s Prediction, followed. In 2024, Wilma received the prestigious Stripschapprijs for her lifetime achievements.

At Studio Jan van Haasteren

Since 2022, Wilma has been the fifth artist to join Studio Jan van Haasteren. She started by drawing the Junior puzzles, with The Snowman as her first title, and has since created several more. In 2023, her first 500-piece puzzle, Christmas Itch, was released.

Distinctive Style

Wilma’s puzzles are cheerful, colourful, and feature her own recognisable elements. In her Junior puzzles, she always hides a black hand with the words “the black hand was here”. Her characters often have rosy pink cheeks, giving her drawings a lively and warm appearance.