Three wooden bookshelves filled with colorful books, decorated with potted plants, paper lanterns, and a string of triangular fabric bunting in bright colors.

Welcome to my little world

A woman with long auburn hair smiling and holding a stack of colorful books in front of a bookshelf filled with various books.

Hello, I'm Rachael! I'm a British illustrator based in Merseyside, UK, bringing stories to life with vibrant, whimsical artwork. I've illustrated over 50 children's books, been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and had one of my biggest pinch-me moments illustrating new titles for the legendary Dame Jacqueline Wilson,
a genuine childhood dream come true.

FIND OUT MORE
A book cover titled "The Secret Garden Revisited" by Anthea Simmons, featuring colorful illustrations of flowers, birds, butterflies, a hedgehog, and a girl opening a gate surrounded by lush greenery.
Book cover titled 'The Primrose Railway Children' by Jacqueline Wilson with illustrations by Rachel Dean. Features three children outdoors, one sitting on a suitcase, one holding a bird and a fish tank, and another taking a photo. The background shows a blue sky, clouds, and a railway bridge with floral and bird illustrations surrounding the characters.
Book cover titled 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott, part of Oxford Children's Classics series, featuring illustrated portraits of four women, surrounded by floral and leafy patterns.

Children's books

Have a browse through my colourful and character-filled books!
I hope you find a story that feels like it was made for you.

LET'S EXPLORE
An illustration of a girl with red hair riding a golden dragon through a starry sky with pink clouds.
Children dressed in animal costumes performing on stage with a green curtain decorated with stars and yellow trim, under a starry background.
A drawing of a sleeping mouse with closed eyes, pink nose, and fur, surrounded by colorful flowers, feathers, and purple background.

Illustrations

Take a look through my artwork, a mix of whimsical
characters, nature, and everyday wonder.

BROWSE GALLERY
An illustrated scene of children playing outdoors featuring a girl with butterfly wings standing on a tree stump, surrounded by grass, mushrooms, a boy with insect wings, a snail, and small insects, with a whimsical and colorful style.
Illustration of two children, a girl with long orange hair and a boy with dark blue hair, holding hands and dancing in a circle.
A colorful illustration featuring a girl riding a golden dragon with purple clouds, stars, and a moon in the background.

Shop

I'm so excited to share my print collection, Moments of Magic, with you.
Each one is ready to find a new home.

SHOP NOW
A row of colorful books on a wooden shelf next to a green leafy plant in a pot.

Book Club

The Middle Grade Grown-Ups is having a little rest right now.
If it makes a comeback, you'll be the first to know.

JOIN IN
Hands with red nail polish and rings typing on a white computer keyboard, a color palette and paint tubes on a wooden surface, and paintbrushes lying nearby.

Artist blog

Over on Substack, I write about the real stuff: creative inspiration, honest reflections, and the ups and downs of life as an illustrator.

A woman with long, wavy blonde hair reading a colorful book in a cozy library or bookstore, surrounded by shelves of books and some green plants.

Newsletter

Join me in Rachael's Corner for creative adventures, works-in-progress, new art, and book recommendations, landing in your inbox each month.

Client Testimonials

Designer at Penguin Random House UK

Simplified black and white illustration of a penguin inside an oval outline.

Emily Smyth

“Every project with Rachael is an absolute dream! She’s fantastically creative, always punctual and an expert at bringing stories to life. Truly a joy to collaborate with!”

Danielle Ravenport

Close-up of a conveyor belt with shiny metallic objects, likely metal rings, against a blurred background.

Designer at Bloomsbury

“Rachael is an absolute dream to work with, she is full of creativity, has really fun ideas and illustrates characters and animals with so much humour and individuality that brings all the scenes to life throughout her books. It’s always a pleasure to work with her and I thoroughly enjoyed working on The Thames and Tide Club series together.”

Children’s Fiction art director, Simon & Schuster UK

Silhouette of a person in a hat walking with a cane.

Jesse Green

“Working with Rachael on Nicola Baker’s Whistledown Farm Adventures series has been a real delight. On top of being extremely talented and illustrating the cutest farm animals I’ve ever seen, she’s also a pleasure to work with and is always receptive to feedback. I’m looking forward to working with Rachael again.”