About Danesh Mohiuddin

Born in Hyderabad, India, during the Hindu festival of Diwali, my ears had to be protected from the firecrackers going off in the background. In fact so loud that my parents decided to move to the then quiet desert in the middle east, Dubai. My mom carried me there in a Moses basket, and all the way people thought she was carrying live chickens. That had a strong effect on me, and to this day, I’m self conscious of the fact that I may look like a chicken. 

Anyways, once in Dubai, with not much more than sand and palm trees around, I dove into Mad Magazine, Asterix comics and Marvel Comics. And so 17 years passed by, and my glasses got thicker and thicker. But the vision for my future was still blurry.

I then moved to Toronto to do one of the three things in University that Indian parents care about and will pay for (Medicine, Business or Engineering). But my non doctor dreams were thrashed in my first calculus exam, and I knew I was not going to integrate well in that program. Slowly, I slid into Social Psychology with a sprinkling or English Literature and Biology. Somehow, despite the many drunken nights, I got my Bachelor of Science degree. (University of Toronto)

Now that I had half fulfilled my indian parent’s dream, I went to Art School (Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario). I drew naked people and lots of them, and somehow that improved my drawing. I also spent many days drawing people on the subways, and working in an advertising agency. 

I then moved back to Dubai, as my student loans were becoming unbearable. In the new shiny Dubai, I landed a job as a cartoonist in a newspaper called Gulf News. Here I drew political cartoons, single panel regulars, editorial illustrations and even did court sketches. And then, I met a beautiful Spanish girl who swept me off my feet and all the way to Spain. 

Over there I started freelancing and did work with clients like Saatchi & Saatchi, Scholastic, Time Out Magazine and some other names that are so impressive that I will not mention them out of pure humility. I attended comic conventions all over Europe and my work got better and worse at the same time. 

And then out of nowhere I got a call from Toronto, a bank (TD) wanted to hire me to do their editorial illustrations. They paid well and accepted my style, so that’s what I did. Cubicle life was not a good fit, and I started working from home and part time, and continued freelancing work.. Illustrating humorous ad campaigns, card games, designing toys, drawing university maps, doing graphic facilitation, comic books and more.

I now found myself back in Valencia, Spain! I've come half circle.