A little about me

I grew up in a house of books and spent a lot of time in my local library in South London. I still have my coloured-in library card somewhere! Books showed me all sorts of different worlds - real and imaginary, but above all they took me to a calm space. Books are wonderful tactile objects and there’s something really valuable about sharing a tangible book with others.

I spent my pocket money getting the Dandy and Beano - I loved the humour, the movement and the boggling eyes! Some of my first drawings were my attempts to copy characters from these comics, and I think that’s why so many of my characters have big bold eyes!

At school, I was lucky to have great teachers who helped me find the right books. Some of my most vivid memories of school are listening to stories being read aloud - Matilda, Bridge to Terabithia and many more. With my teachers’ help I found chapter books and eventually went on to study English Literature at Leeds University.

Since then I have worked in a range of jobs, including a bookseller and a primary school teacher. All the while I have loved drawing and creating, and especially helping to get others started. Kids are so much better clued-up than adults on many things, and have a brilliant un-jaded attitude which is inspiring, so I really enjoy my school visits and festival appearances.

Now I get to make my own books! It really is a great privilege to get to make up stories and characters and to share them. Hopefully they might inspire someone to pick up a pen and start creating themselves.