Ilon Wikland Maire-Ilon Wikland is an Estonian-born Swedish artist and illustrator. was born in Tartu City in the west of Estonia (pop. 91,000). , Estonia, and raised in Haapsalu Town in the west of Estonia(pop.10,000). , Lääne County County on the west of Estonia (pop. 25,000). on Estonia's Baltic coast. In 1944 she escaped with the family of a classmate from the second Soviet occupation of Estonia, to Sweden. There she started collaborating with Astrid Lindgren, a famous children's books writer.