Gloriously unnecessary things, drawn by hand.

We're Merchants of Nonsense, a Sydney illustration studio that draws Australia: its places, its plants and its animals.

Mostly we draw maps of the places people are oddly attached to. Their suburb. Their beach. The town they left years ago and still bring up at dinner. Every landmark is drawn by hand: the ferry wharf, the pub, the jacarandas, the fish and chip shop that has outlived three councils. Then we piece them together on screen into a map.

We draw the locals too. Banksias, waratahs and gum blossom. Kangaroos, koalas, and the cockatoo currently dismantling someone's balcony.

We're Australian and fairly pleased about it. We like sunshine, long weekends and pineapple on pizza, and we won't be taking questions on that last one.

All of it ends up on things: prints, calendars, jigsaws, tea towels, bags and notebooks. None of it is essential. That's rather the point.

We print in small runs with local small businesses, on materials chosen to be recycled or kept. Our prints are limited editions, so when they sell out, they're gone.

You'll find us at The Rocks Markets in Sydney and at pop-up events everywhere, usually being asked why we haven't drawn your suburb yet.

If we haven't drawn yours, we can. Custom maps are our favourite kind of job.

J & K

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