Past, Present & Future
I graduated in 2010 from The Northern School of Art with a first class degree in BA (Hons) Textiles and Surface Pattern Design.
A spot of freelancing, a few work placements and an unpaid internship later, I side stepped into graphic design, photography and marketing and worked creatively for several businesses until 2017.
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Craving more creativity and the opportunity to paint and draw, I decided to set up my own illustration business.
Starting with handmade gifts featuring my own textiles prints and watercolour designs on greetings cards; I did my rounds of local fairs and art markets. All the time honing in on my painting skills and learning what customers like.
I enjoyed designing for other businesses too during this time and opened my books for surface pattern and illustration projects for other brand’s products and packaging.
Since having my daughter, I have fallen in love with the world of story telling through picture books; an area of illustration I had yet to explore.
I completed some online courses to investigate my style, including: The Goodship Illustration Picture Book Course and Make Art That Sells, Illustrating for Children’s Picture Books.
This was a great introduction kid lit art and since completing, I have focused on creating portfolio pieces for this market.
Seeking Illustration / Literary Agent
​Open to children’s picture book texts, middle grade, non-fiction illustration work: botanical / nature / animals / insects / mini beasts / the world / sea creatures / the ocean.
Branding and product: surface pattern licensing.
I have also been developing my own picture book ideas and have 4 manuscripts, some of which are at thumbnail or dummy book stage. I am keen to share these with an agency that represents Author-Illustrators as much as I am excited to work on the projects of other authors too.
I do still love all things botanical and floral, however, so I am particularly interested in creating picture books with environmentally friendly themes and issues surrounding well-being; stories that promote wildlife, nature and being outside as much as possible for young readers.
Also, stories which gently introduce understanding about neuro-diversities and offer support and ideas are also on my personal wish list of illustration.
A Few of My Favourite Things
Second hand clothes, gardening, growing tomatoes and herbs, summer salads with edible flowers, arranging flowers, terracotta plant pots, white and blue pottery (especially when found on the shore), sea glass, texture in painting, collage, animals of all kinds, live music, connecting people, family, singing, my 10am coffee ritual.