How did you become a professional children’s book illustrator?

After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 2017, I moved back home and threw myself into building my career - working tirelessly from a spare bedroom to grow my portfolio and online presence. Over the next year and a half, I honed my style, sold artwork through my print and commission business, and collaborated with well-known brands online.

All that hard work paid off when I was headhunted by publishers and my now agent! Since signing with Pickled Ink, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have consistent work, helping create stories through illustration. It’s something I’m super passionate about!

How did you become Dame Jacqueline Wilson’s illustrator?

After two years of illustrating numerous children’s books for multiple publishers and authors, I had built up a strong enough professional portfolio to be considered for something incredibly special… a new project for Jacqueline Wilson!

I was put forward alongside a few other illustrators to create a collection of sample work, and after several rounds of submissions, I was officially chosen as the illustrator! It was an absolute childhood dream come true!

Working with Jacqueline Wilson has been, and continues to be, a complete pleasure and privilege. Bringing her iconic stories to life through illustration is something I’ll always be grateful for!

Can you illustrate my book?

I exclusively collaborate with publishing houses for children's book projects. If you're working with a publisher and would like to chat about a potential project, I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to get in touch!

How did you find your style?

I believe that you don’t necessarily find your style… your style finds you! It comes through practice, exploration, and curiosity.

For me, it started by studying the work of artists and illustrators I admired. By diving deep into their techniques, experimenting relentlessly, and embracing trial and error until something started to click. But more than that, I focused on illustrating what I was passionate about, making every piece a labour of love.

‘Finding your style’ isn’t a final destination, it’s more like an ongoing journey. Your style will grow, shift, and evolve over time, and that’s what makes the creative process so exciting! So don’t stress if you haven’t ‘found’ yours yet. I’m still developing mine! Enjoy the ride, keep creating, and let it unfold naturally.

How do you juggle projects?

It’s taken me years to find a routine that truly works for me, but I’ve finally figured out a system that keeps me super productive and balanced!

I try to be an early riser so I can cram in as much as possible, and I block out my days and weeks to dedicate focused time to each project. Mornings are usually spent on one project, while afternoons are reserved for another - this helps keep things fresh and prevents that dreaded burnout!

What materials do you use?

Traditional:
Windsor and Newton Gouache paint
Holbein Acrylic Gouache Paint
Artx Acrylic Pens
Liquitex Acrylic Ink
Faber Castell Pencils
Carandache Neocolor II crayons

Digital:
Procreate
Photoshop
Freya’s Watercolour paper
The Rusty Nib ink set
Retro Maxpack gouache set
Vivibrush paint set
KJ Gouache studio brush set