Fiera Capital Art Show Toronto

Sometimes, the most heartfelt projects come from the most unexpected places. like an investment firm.

When Nicole from Fiera Capital reached out with an unusual request, I couldn’t resist. She invited me, along with a handful of other Canadian artists, to choose a few whimsical drawings from a folder of artwork created by the firm’s employees’ children. My mission? To reimagine these charming kid-made creations as polished, professional illustrations, in the spirit of The Monster Project, a non-profit initiative that transforms children’s sketches into fully realized works of art.

This wasn’t my usual type of client. After all, I don’t often get illustration briefs from investment firms! But the joy and playfulness in those original kid drawings instantly sparked my imagination. I carefully selected pieces that spoke to me, then set to work translating their quirky shapes, bold colors, and wild ideas into detailed, vibrant illustrations, keeping the child’s vision front and center while adding depth, texture, and a touch of storytelling.

The project culminated in a lively in-office art show, where employees and their families gathered to celebrate. Each child artist received a framed print of “their” illustration, and the originals still hang proudly in the Toronto offices today.