Pupil of Valentijn Bing and the sea painter Abraham Hulk, and painter of strongly romantic beach, sea and river views. In his work Hilleveld pays a lot of attention to the picturesque effect of light and shadow, which he also applies to underline the drama of a scene. Seascapes during storms or severe weather are a regular feature in his oeuvre. He is no longer concerned with depicting a peaceful landscape with recognizable ship types and topographical indications, but with man's struggle against the violence of nature.