Australian illustrator creates detailed hand-drawn map of Donegal

An illustrator, originally from Australia, has created a detailed hand-drawn map of Donegal. 

Danni Simpson, who now lives in Belfast, was inspired by Donegal’s dramatic landscapes, strong sense of community and breathtaking landmarks. The Mary from Dungloe is included as well as Daniel O’Donnell, McDaids Football Special, Wild Ireland, Slieve League, Grianan of Aileach and many more iconic Donegal features. 

Each map, which aims to capture the character and charm of the destination, takes over 100 hours to complete. Danni has now drawn 23 countries, 24 towns, cities and counties, stretching across several continents. A full collection of her maps are available to browse and purchase at Danni Simpson Art. 

A map of Ireland was the first Danni created; however, after three years, she decided to recreate it to expand the features. The revised map,  which was completed on St Patrick’s Day, features landmarks such as The Cliffs of Moher, The Giant’s Causeway and the Wicklow Mountains. 

Danni continues to travel, soaking up new places and deriving inspiration for her next project. She is currently working on a hand-drawn map of County Galway.