A bit about me
I graduated from Cambridge School of Art in 2012 with a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration. My background as a graphic designer has had a great influence on my work. I have always been especially drawn to children’s books created by ex-designers, such as the great Eric Carle, Bruno Munari, Paul Rand and Leo Lionni.
My illustrations are inspired by my love of nature and my wonder of the natural world. Expressing this through texture and movement, with a strong sense of shape, colour and design. I love to play with colour in the form of a visual narrative. I have a passion for typography and on occasion create hand-drawn fonts for my books.
I enjoy the different creative disciplines of illustrating for editorial, advertising, and design projects, especially when initiating ideas are part of the brief. But Children’s books remain my passion. I am never happier than when I am swept away in storytelling - in all its aspects - whether it be writing, illustrating or just reading a favourite picture book (which I still do every night!).
I wrote and illustrated Rabbityness part way through my Masters, it was published by Child's Play International in April 2012. It was a very special personal project for me, written from the heart and an expression of creativity, embracing our uniqueness, and a story of love and loss. Rabbityness been nominated for 8 awards including UKLA Book Awards, Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2013. It has been published in many different languages around the world.
Other picture books I have both written and illustrated include; Little Home Bird and Never Ever both published by Child's Play, Chimpanzees for Tea and Jungle Jamboree published by Puffin UK and Penguin US, and Tiny Blue, I Love You published by Hodder. My abiding wish is to create beautiful books with depth and meaning, along with a sense of fun and surprise!