A woman with long red hair and a patterned blouse holding several colorful books in front of a bookshelf decorated with bunting in a cozy room.

Hey there! I'm Rachael.

I'm a British children's book illustrator based in the lovely seaside town of Churchtown, UK, where I live with my partner in a much-loved Victorian fixer-upper.

I illustrate both traditionally and digitally, often blending the two together. My work is full of charming characters and vibrant, detailed, imaginative worlds, but I'm most at home in the world of folklore, magic, and the otherworldly.

Over the past seven years, I've illustrated over 50 children's books and counting! It's been a joy and a privilege to help tell so many wonderful stories, and the magic of it never wears off. I find endless inspiration in the natural world and often take creative breaks to explore local parks and woodlands. If I could live in a forest with nothing but a sketchbook, paints, and a kettle & cup... I would!

When I'm not drawing, I'm writing, making music, creating social media content, and gently trying (and mostly failing) to befriend the neighbour's cats.

One of the most exciting moments in my career so far was becoming the new illustrator for Dame Jacqueline Wilson. It was a complete childhood dream come true, and I still pinch myself over it!

Right now, I'm especially enjoying working on middle grade fiction and picture books. If you're looking for an illustrator to collaborate with on your children's book, my agent at Pickled Ink would love to hear from you!

📩 Charlie Bowden: charlie@pickledink.com

A young girl with beige skin, brown hair, and a green bow, wearing a blue dress with yellow, green, and pink cartoonish figures, red and yellow striped skirt, and a red sash. She is holding a paintbrush with yellow paint on it and dancing on one foot next to a colorful painted rock with red, green, and blue shapes.
Colorful illustration featuring children dressed as insects and animals in a whimsical outdoor scene with mushrooms, grass, and a tree stump. Paintbrushes are visible in the foreground.
Wooden bookshelf with a large collection of colorful books, small decorative banners with tassels hanging from the top shelf, and green potted plants on the shelves.
Colorful ceramic unicorn figurine with striped patterns and a face painted in bright colors, standing on a table with a green plant in the background.

Clients

Anderson Press / Barrington Stoke / Bloomsbury / Bonnier Books / Chicken House / Farshore Books / Hachette / Harper Collins UK / In The Moment Magazine /
Jacqueline Wilson Magazine / Macmillan / Ma Vie Magazine / Nosy Crow /
Outside Magazine / Oxford University Press / Simon & Schuster / Penguin Random House UK / Penguin Random House US / Puffin UK / Usborne

Illustrated Books

A CHASE IN TIME by Sally Nicholls
A CHRISTMAS IN TIME by Sally Nicholls
AN ESCAPE IN TIME by Sally Nicholls
A SECRET IN TIME by Sally Nicholls
BABY LOVE by Jacqueline Wilson
B IS FOR BALLET by John Robert Allman
DEEP SECRET by Berlie Doherty
FINDING HOPE by Nicola Baker
HEIDI by Johanna Spyri
HOME FOR GRACE by Kathryn White
LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott
MEETING MEG by Nicola Baker
MOONCHILD: VOYAGE OF THE LOST AND FOUND by Aisha Bushby
MOONCHILD: CITY OF THE SUN by Aisha Bushby
ONE HOME by Hiba Noor Khan
PROJECT FAIRY by Jacqueline Wilson
RESCUING RUBY by Nicola Baker
SAVING SNOWFLAKE by Nicola Baker
STAR OF THE SHOW by Jacqueline Wilson
THE ADVENTURES OF LYLALAND by Louise Pentland
THE BEST SLEEPOVER IN THE WORLD by Jacqueline Wilson
THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS SECRET EVER by LD Lapinkski
THE FARAWAY TRUTH by Janae Marks
THE GIRL WHO WASN'T THERE by Jacqueline Wilson
THE OTHER EDIE TRIMMER by Jacqueline Wilson
THE PRIMROSE RAILWAY CHILDREN by Jacqueline Wilson
THE PUFFIN BOOK OF BIG DREAMS: SWEET DREAMS by Anne Fine
THE SEASIDE SLEEPOVER by Jacqueline Wilson
THE SECRET GARDEN REWILDED by Anthea Simmons
THE SUNDAE DELIVERY SERVICE by Holly Rivers
THE THAMES AND TIDE CLUB: THE SECRET CITY by Katya Balen
THE THAMES AND TIDE CLUB: SQUID INVASION by Katya Balen
THE THAMES AND TIDE CLUB: GHOST PIRATES by Katya Balen
THE ROYAL REBEL: THE LIFE OF A SUFFRAGETTE PRINCESS SOPHIA DULEEP SINGH by Bali Rae
THE WINTER WISH by Helen Mortimer
WAVE RIDERS by Lauren St John

Book cover of 'The Other Eleanor' by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Rachael Dean, featuring an illustrated girl with long dark hair in a striped shirt writing in a notebook, surrounded by flowers, a clock, a bottle of hand sanitizer, family photos, and a bouquet of roses, with a background of pink hills, buildings, and a starry night sky.
Book cover for 'The Backthorn Branch' by Elden Caldecott, featuring colorful illustrations of a large tree with red roots and branches, surrounded by children, animals, and whimsical designs, with the text 'Nominated for the Carnegie Medal' at the bottom.
Illustration of a colorful countryside with mountains and a large ice cream sundae, children, animals like a goat and a cow, a boat, and flowers, advertising a delivery service called 'The Sundae Delivery'

Drop me a line!

Reach out if you’re interested in collaborating, have questions about my shop, or would like to share your work with me! I have a special appreciation for hearing from young, aspiring illustrators and writers who share their creations. I'm always happy to connect!

​

Email me directly at:

rachaeldeanwork@gmail.com

Close-up of a person holding a smartphone displaying an Instagram profile with various book-related images, with colorful books on a shelf blurred in the background.

Instagram

I began my illustration journey on Instagram and still love sharing my process, behind-the-scenes peeks, and connecting with fellow art lovers.
Come and say hi!

Two hands with red painted nails and multiple rings, typing on a white keyboard, surrounded by paint tubes, paintbrushes, and a color mixing chart on a wooden surface.

Substack

Over on Substack, I share a mix of newsletters and honest blog posts about my career and illustration journey. Follow along and be part of my creative community!