My absolute favourite place on earth is the island where I grew up; Engeløya. The island is located in the north of Norway, in-between Bodø and Lofoten.

The map I have illustrated only covers a fraction of the history and sites Engeløya contains. I've chosen an area on the south-west end of the island, where the majority of sites and landmarks are datet to the iron and viking era, when Engeløya was an important site of power. Whenever we have visitors coming to the island, they all have to join on a mandatory sightseeing drive around the island. And Stegen/Laskestad(the place I have illustrated)are some of the most important stops. On a normally 30 minute drive, the sightseeing trip will take up to 2 hours with my family behind the wheel.

If you ask me, Engeløya is the best place to grow up. The island is packed to the brim with historical attractions, mixed with medium tall mountains, long white beaches, midnight sun and some pretty typical Norwegian residents.

MAPPING SPECIAL PLACES - A walk along London's Southbank! There is nothing quite like sitting down on a bench after a stroll along the south bank.
It’s such a whimsical place perfect for both Londoners and tourists alike.
And yes going to the South Bank is a touristy thing I still do after so many years of living in London. This space is special to me. In 2006 arrived in Waterloo Station on the Eurostar from Germany via Brussels with only one bag and the idea of staying here for one year. Everything about London and South Bank was new and exciting to me. Fast forward it was the beginning of many years of adventures in this special town. There are so many great places in London that I love and where I go to off the touristy beaten tracks, but for some reason, I always come back to this lively stretch of the river and its surrounding area. This is is one of the most vibrant parts of the city for me and such a great place to soak up London and it's fast-paced rhythm even if it is just watching busy people walk passing by. Whenever I cross the Golden Jubilee bridge at night after meeting up with friends in a bar on the South Bank, I think “This is London. I can’t believe I live here” when I look at the city skyline.

This map shows a selection of the spots you can discover when taking a walk along the Southbank - a perfect spot for a wander along the Thames or a drink with a view of the city skyline.

This place is special to me because... of it's beautiful architectural artistic history. I've always found Rome to be such an inspiring place as an artist, and I've been wanting to create something that would portray that very serene and almost surreal feeling I get from seeing and visiting Rome. The goal of this piece was to show Rome as a courtyard full of marble statues depicting my favorite Roman monuments and various tourists in ancient Roman garb!

This place is special to me because...it's out of a dream - you won't believe your eyes or your senses, it is magical. Once having visited Hydra, you will 'visit' there twice, once in your physical experience, and again and again in your dreams...until you return again. A captivating island only 47 miles from Athens, cruise over to Hydra and be prepared to hoof it - either on a donkey or foot - because there are no cars and no transportation on the island requiring wheels. Only 19 square miles in size, Hydra will certainly require a huge piece of your heart, for once you visit you will always long to return. Swimsuits and sandals are proper attire for anything on island. Enjoy!

This place is special to me because I now call it home. Two years ago we moved from the city of Bordeaux, to this golden sweet wine producing region of France where the fall morning mist causes the grapes to have “noble rot”, creating a high concentration of sugar in the grapes before they’re picked and made into wine. The landscapes are beautiful here. Sauternes is home to Chateau Yquem, a wine so special, that it’s the only Premier Grand Cru classé “Superior” in the world.

The I-17 corridor is full of fun things to see and do. Many hiking trails, ancient ruins and artifacts. Swimming holes and great off-roading paths. Remember to stop for lunch and a slice of pie!

A map of some of my favorite places to see around New York City's famous High Line park, including places to eat, art galleries, bookshops, and more.

This place is special to me because my girlfriend and I visited the island during a milestone birthday. It was my first time visiting the Keys and I was blown away by the lush trees and flowers, the intriguing history, the abundant sunshine, tropical birds and marine life...and the delicious fish and fritters! There's simply no better place to celebrate a birthday, Key West is truly a paradise! This map is now a cherished keepsake of my vacation, but it can also be used as a guide for anyone planning their first-time visit!

This place is special to me because it is a cute, small, cycle-friendly city. I love ambling through its quaint streets, seeing what's new at my favourite places and shopping without bringing back any plastic...all on a cycle!

The Jordaan is the oldest &, in my humble opinion, most beautiful part of Amsterdam. It carries so much history, charm & quirky details. The homes here are breathtaking & theres always some interesting art or collectibles in the home windows, which I love!

I always dreamt of going to Sweden and the summer before last I had the chance to spend one month as an artist-in-residence in a charming villa in Ålem, a small town between Stockholm and Kalmar in Småland, South Sweden. Almost everyday I took my sketchbook and an old green bicycle to ride around the fields and forests in the company of sheep, cattle, horses and elks. I was especially in love with Strömsrum, a tiny settlement of wooden houses with an idyllic setting over the Alsterå river. I discovered it by chance and was impressed by the large manor house dating from the 17th century, which was entirely made of wood. I went on to Pataholm at the Kalmar Strait coast, which looks like a picture book village taken directly from an Astrid Lindgren novel, with small wooden houses painted in fox red, a dreamy harbor and a charming café. I’ve tried all the bicycle routes, cafés and swimming spots myself and have captured my travel memories with this map – if you ever come to Småland you should have a visit!

This place is special to me because since I was little I had always had a fascination with witches, black cats, and the strange and unusual. Salem’s history is iconic and always draws in the curiosity of many, from the famous Salem witch trials, to being the film location for the cult classic Hocus Pocus. The charming pubs, historic locations and museums aplenty will surely put a spell on you as well.

This place is special to me because it is emotionally connected to my childhood. My dad was born in this region and we took this trip several times by ourselves and with our extended family when my sisters and I were little, and we have many fond memories and funny anecdotes from these trips. The south of the Dominican Republic is beautiful and it is very rich in biodiversity.

This is a special place to me because I love an underdog and Eastern Oregon is often overlooked. There is loads of information about the west side of Oregon, and it is for good reason; they have amazing food, nature, and culture. Frankly, most of Eastern Oregon feels empty and intimidatingly vast. I wanted to highlight a few of the lesser known but majestic places to visit. You might not get a five star hotel or a life changing meal, but the stars are impossibly bright, the skies are huge and ever changing, and the sounds of nature reign supreme.