Maya Babeanu (pronounced bah-bey-ah-new) is a francophone illustrator and writer with inky paws, living on the unceded traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ nations, also known as Vancouver, BC.
 

A graduate of the Illustration program at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2025), Maya creates heartfelt illustrations and stories for children that explore imagination, empathy, and emotional resilience. She works in both traditional and digital media, combining watercolour, ink, collage, and Photoshop to craft textured, organic, and poetic imagery.
 

Maya is especially drawn to themes of belonging, healing, and identity. Growing up as a neurodivergent child, she developed a deep sensitivity to the emotional lives of children and strives to create characters and stories that help young readers feel seen, inspired, and understood.
 

Outside of her home studio, Maya can be found rollerskating, reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, photographing various mosses, and befriending every dog she passes.