Polly Alakija (b. 1966, UK) studied art at the Oxford Polytechnic and later completed a teaching diploma in the Montessori method.

In 1990, she moved to Nigeria and got married. In 2005 she relocated to South Africa. Her rich Africa experiences are evident in the expressive details of her children’s book illustrations and general artworks.

As well as pursuing her own art career, she has involved herself actively in community related art projects and painting. As a trained Montessori teacher Alakija has been actively engaged in the classroom and in running creative workshops for children as young as 3 years old.

As an artist she has exhibited in France, the UK, the University of Ibadan, Lagos, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

In 2011 Polly Alakija moved back to the UK and is now based in Gloucestershire.