Dheekshitha (Lakshmi Gayathri) is a Kidlit Illustrator & Character Designer based in Tamil Nadu, India. Though she graduated in Civil Engineering, her lifelong passion for art led her to picture book illustration, where she found joy in visual storytelling and the imaginative world of children’s literature.

She creates vibrant, character-driven illustrations that celebrate emotion, playfulness, and cultural warmth. Working across both digital and traditional mediums, her artwork is inspired by expressive characters, rich colour palettes & gentle whimsy. Alongside her illustration practice, Dheekshitha enjoys teaching art to children, an experience that continually inspires her creativity. She also runs Dheekshu Art Shop, where her illustrations are adapted into playful stationery and products.