Meet Ali Dunnell the artist behind Travels with my Art
I am an artist, photographer and teacher who travels the world recording images of people and life in sketchbooks, canvases and online. Never without my camera or a sketchbook and pen, I use my day-to-day experiences and travel journals as inspiration for my artwork.
Originally from England, I have travelled extensively around the world and have had some amazing adventures visiting and living in a diverse range of countries and cultures.
Twenty years ago, after completing my art history degree at university, I set off on a gap year travelling independently around the world. My gap year evolved into a gap decade, and I spent the rest of my twenties exploring Asia, North Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Oceania as solo female traveller. To help fund my travels, I trained as a teacher, and taught overseas in Portugal, Poland, Syria, Egypt and Hong Kong as well as in England, in London, Cambridge and Nottingham.
In my early thirties I returned to England and retrained as a journalist, working on newspapers and local radio stations in Yorkshire, where I also met my husband and we had our three children. But soon the travel bug bit again, and we decided to work abroad, to give our children a taste of international life and an experience of different cultures. So, for the last seven years we have been living as an expat family, first in Sweden, then in East Africa; in Tanzania and Kenya, and now back in Stockholm.
Sketching and painting have always stayed close to my heart and I have built up a large number of sketchbooks, paintings, photo albums, USB sticks and memory cards – sometimes exhibiting and selling my work too.
I found a great way to share these images, initially with friends and family, but later with followers from all over the world, was via a blog – which was how Travels with My Art began. Travels with my Art is ultimately a gallery of my paintings, sketchbooks and photographs, but is also a mish-mash of my musings on travel, expat life, art, teaching and motherhood.
I hope my blog will give you a little spark of wanderlust.
Ali Dunnell
Ali sketching in St Petersberg, Russia
Ali in the Atacama desert, on the border between Bolivia and Chile
Ali at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey
Ali and the Great Sphinx of Giza in Cairo, Egypt
Ali doing a little meditation after the four-day-hike to Machu Picchu in Peru
Frida, Ali, Lottie, Mark and Leon on the edge of the Ngorogoro Crater, Tanzania
Ali and Mark in Red Square, Moscow, Russia
Self Portrait in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ali at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Shop-window selfie, with Mark and Russian dolls, in Moscow
Ali and family under the blossom trees in Kungsträdgården, in Stockholm, Sweden
Ali on the grave of Oscar Wilde in Paris, France
Ali’s feet on the Elvis Presley star on Walk of Fame Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, USA
Ali on Vegator Beach in Goa, India
Leon, Lottie, Ali, Primo, Maya and Frida on the back door step of our house in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Ali on Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Wing-mirror selfie in a safari car in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Ali sat on the steps of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Ali in the Staré Město in Prague, Czech Republic
Piki piki wing-mirror selfie in Kigali, Rwanda
Ali on the Rialto Bridge over looking the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy
Mark, Ali, Lottie, Leon and Frida on the Dancing Rocks in Mwanza, Tanzania
Ali on Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA
Ali on one of her first adventures, interrailing around Europe, coincidentally reading Graham Greene’s ‘Travels with my Aunt’
Ali on the steps of the Mayan ruins at Uxmal in Yucatan, Mexico
Ali on Mount Qasioun overlooking Damascus, Syria
Ali in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Ali and Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow
Staying on a roof top in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ali and Natalie, ready to interrail around Europe
My reflection in Colin Rose’s “Rain” sculpture in Sheffield’s Millennium Square, England
Ali in front of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece
Ali on top of a mountain above Innsbruck in Austria
Ali, Lottie, Leon and Frida on the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya
Ali over looking the Mississippi River in Memphis, USA
The Dunnells on the London Eye, England
Paddling in the Pacific Ocean in the Cook Islands
Ali having a afternoon tea at Sanderson Hotel in London, England
Ali outside the Capitol Building in Washington DC, USA
Ali sat at the top of the Aztec Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan in Mexico
Ali and Carol next to the Anne Frank statue in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Ali outside Villa Rosa the famous flamenco bar in Madrid, Spain
Hi Ali! Thank you for stopping by my blog and signing up to tag along on my future adventures. Looks like you’ve had some awe-inspiring ones of your own. All the best to you! 🙂
Just dropped by to say, your site is amazing, it is going to take me a while to assimilate. at the moment I mulling over the religion being the only millionaire in India. Your photographs are amazing too.
Hey Ma’am
I am new in the wordpress family. I am still a confused soul about my life and my blog. It blog looks amazing, glad i found you on instagram.
Hey Ali, I love the concept of travelling and telling a story through art. I loved your sketches and artwork. I tried checking for your email id on this website but couldn’t find it. Can you please provide me your email id. I wish to dedicate a blog post for you
Love your blog! If you visit mine you’ll know exactly why. Except for the kids and the nationality, I already found so many similarities. Ok, that sounds creepy. I’m actually more psychotic than creepy, so no worries. 🤣
Jokes aside, really love your art work.
Thanks for the follow and letting me discover your blog. If you would ever like to share a short post about your experiences as an expat I would love to feature some of your fabulous art and photos. Here’s an example: https://cindamackinnon.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/uprooted-and-relocated-expat-file16/
(You can contact me at About/Contact on left sidebar)
Hi
My name is Joyce, I am a marketing executive at expatfinder.com which is a leading expat information and services website.
I saw on your blog that you are and expat. I wish to interview you to further share some of your tips. The questions are mainly about the housing, the daily life etc.
It just takes 5 minutes (or more depending if you have lots to say 🙂
Of course, if you accept we can add a link to your blog or some of your website.
If you are interested to participate at this project, please send me an email at interview@expatfinder.com.
You art is so fresh and interesting! It’s easy to see that you work at your craft, and you have talent. Thanks for following Oh, the Places We See. We, too, love looking at the world and its people in various settings and ways. Best wishes to you for finding even more inspiration this coming year.
Ali, please contact me urgently about image permission you did for IWD 2014 in the Cook islands, a mothers day pic of church. would love to hear from you. love your work.
Hi Lisa. Thanks for the positive feedback. Can I ask what you would be using the Mother’s Day in the Cook Islands picture for. If you credit the picture to Ali Dunnell – Travels with my Art and put a link to my blog I am sure it will be fine for you to use it. Ali
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner December 28, 2016
Hi Ali! Thank you for stopping by my blog and signing up to tag along on my future adventures. Looks like you’ve had some awe-inspiring ones of your own. All the best to you! 🙂
alidunnell December 29, 2016
I have thank you. Look forward to seeing more of your posts too. Ali
rlishman84 January 11, 2017
I love your site (just found it on WordPress Discover section) and am looking forward to following your future adventures!
alidunnell January 11, 2017
Glad you like it and thanks for following! Ali
Ali Grimshaw January 13, 2017
I have enjoyed looking around your blog and look forward to following you.
alidunnell January 13, 2017
Thanks Ali. I hope you will continue to enjoy my posts. Ali
parwatisingari January 13, 2017
Just dropped by to say, your site is amazing, it is going to take me a while to assimilate. at the moment I mulling over the religion being the only millionaire in India. Your photographs are amazing too.
alidunnell January 13, 2017
Thank you so much. I love working on it and doing all my art work and painting too. I hope you enjoy having a look round it. Ali
thewonderer86 January 15, 2017
Gorgeous photos and paintings. I love your blog.
alidunnell January 16, 2017
Thanks so much Wondering Woman! I guess I could be called a wandering woman too. Ali
Daal January 18, 2017
am much enjoying! so glad I found your site 🙂
alidunnell January 20, 2017
Glad you like my website. Ali
thegoldgrenade April 17, 2017
Hey Ma’am
I am new in the wordpress family. I am still a confused soul about my life and my blog. It blog looks amazing, glad i found you on instagram.
Missy Traveler July 13, 2017
Hey Ali, I love the concept of travelling and telling a story through art. I loved your sketches and artwork. I tried checking for your email id on this website but couldn’t find it. Can you please provide me your email id. I wish to dedicate a blog post for you
Ali Dunnell July 14, 2017
Hi Missy Traveller and thanks for the complements about my blog. Here’s my email: alisondunnell@gmail.com
Nancy September 25, 2017
What an incredible life story and I love your art! I look forward to reading your posts
Ali Dunnell September 28, 2017
Thanks so much Nancy for your positive feedback 🙂
SheryL♥ October 3, 2017
Hi! Thanks a lot for joining Thoughts of SheryL!
Great blog! 🙂
Ali Dunnell October 4, 2017
Thank you
SheryL♥ October 4, 2017
Don’t mention it. 🙂
Suzanne [globalhousesitterX2] October 4, 2017
Interesting life you have experienced so far, no doubt the best is yet to come! Look forward to reading your posts.
Ali Dunnell October 4, 2017
Thank you Suzanne. I guess they say life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans!
HelsinkiBudapest October 23, 2017
Love your blog! If you visit mine you’ll know exactly why. Except for the kids and the nationality, I already found so many similarities. Ok, that sounds creepy. I’m actually more psychotic than creepy, so no worries. 🤣
Jokes aside, really love your art work.
Ali Dunnell October 23, 2017
No worries – I will check out your blog too and get back to you. And thanks for the positive feedback about my work 🙂
HelsinkiBudapest October 23, 2017
🙂 You’re most welcome. About your work and on my blog.
Ali Dunnell October 23, 2017
Just checked out your blog – it’s great. Where are the illustrations from, are they your work?
HelsinkiBudapest October 24, 2017
Thank you! That means a lot! Yes, they are my photos that I play around with. Mainly from sights around Budapest and Helsinki.
Ali Dunnell October 25, 2017
I really like them. They have a unique style 🙂 And Helsinki and Budapest are two of my favourite cities too.
HelsinkiBudapest October 25, 2017
Really? Let me know when you’re in town. We can do some art together, because I love your paintings, too. Thank you for the compliment. 🙂
Expatsteveblog October 24, 2017
Hi Ali, thanks for the follow, I’m looking forward to exploring your pages!
Ali Dunnell October 24, 2017
Thanks Steve 🙂
cindamackinnon October 24, 2017
Thanks for the follow and letting me discover your blog. If you would ever like to share a short post about your experiences as an expat I would love to feature some of your fabulous art and photos. Here’s an example: https://cindamackinnon.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/uprooted-and-relocated-expat-file16/
(You can contact me at About/Contact on left sidebar)
Ali Dunnell October 24, 2017
Thank you so much for the offer – I will check it out and get back to you 🙂
Monetmom October 30, 2017
Hi, I noticed you liked my blog and would like to ask you a couple of questions about blogging.
If you have a moment please contact me.
Ali Dunnell October 31, 2017
Hi Monetmom – if you would like to contact me directly, my email is alisondunnell@gmail.com 🙂
customshouse November 13, 2017
Thanks for liking AND following my blog.You have some veryi nteresting themes going.
Ali Dunnell November 14, 2017
Thank you
Joyce November 29, 2017
Hi
My name is Joyce, I am a marketing executive at expatfinder.com which is a leading expat information and services website.
I saw on your blog that you are and expat. I wish to interview you to further share some of your tips. The questions are mainly about the housing, the daily life etc.
It just takes 5 minutes (or more depending if you have lots to say 🙂
Of course, if you accept we can add a link to your blog or some of your website.
If you are interested to participate at this project, please send me an email at interview@expatfinder.com.
Ali Dunnell November 30, 2017
Dear Joyce. I would be happy to do an interview and have sent you an email requesting more detail. Kind regards, Ali Dunnell
Robert Matthew Goldstein December 7, 2017
It’s nice to meet you. You’ve made some splendid works of art.
Ali Dunnell December 7, 2017
Thank you so much Robert and good to meet you too 🙂
Oh, the Places We See January 3, 2018
You art is so fresh and interesting! It’s easy to see that you work at your craft, and you have talent. Thanks for following Oh, the Places We See. We, too, love looking at the world and its people in various settings and ways. Best wishes to you for finding even more inspiration this coming year.
Ali Dunnell January 3, 2018
Thank you so much for your kind words. Ali 🙂
Lisa Williams January 19, 2018
Ali, please contact me urgently about image permission you did for IWD 2014 in the Cook islands, a mothers day pic of church. would love to hear from you. love your work.
Ali Dunnell January 19, 2018
Hi Lisa. Thanks for the positive feedback. Can I ask what you would be using the Mother’s Day in the Cook Islands picture for. If you credit the picture to Ali Dunnell – Travels with my Art and put a link to my blog I am sure it will be fine for you to use it. Ali
MARY MAE SUSON April 26, 2018
You are amazing ali. I like what you post. Follower here!
alidunnell April 26, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much Mary – Happy to have you following 🙂
Natalia G July 29, 2018
Hi Ali! I nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award. It is a pleasure to read your blog posts. You can find out about your nomination here: https://travelhummingbirds.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/mystery-blogger-award/
alidunnell July 29, 2018 — Post Author
Thank you so much Natalia – I’ll check out the link 😊
Mark May 10, 2020
Hi Ali,
Great website! Can I feature your blog in my online gallery? http://www.mjrgallery.com