I have always been drawing from as far back as I can remember. When I was little I drew every night in bed on a little chalk board until everything was blue, pink or yellow including me. Our back garden was like a small woodland and with it came lots of wildlife and so I was always chasing something or examining some creepy crawlie much to the horror of my family.

At school I was always the first to grab the paint pots and I even got a telling off for taking too long to draw a tractor. I did not think that was fair because I was trying to get it as accurate as possible. I was even asked by teachers and other kids if I was going to be an artist when I grew up, to which I replied ‘No way, there is no money in that. I am going to be a vet!’ Later on I realised I was either too dumb or too lazy to be a vet (to the relief of many animals) and was much better at drawing animals than examining them. I went to art school at John Moores University and then worked as a graphic designer for a few years until I decided I had to chase my dream of being a children’s book illustrator. I went freelance in 2002 and I have now illustrated over ten picture books and also some board books for Little Tiger Press, Gullane Children’s books and Lion Hudson. My first book was called ‘One Snowy Night’ for Little Tiger press and that was the book that got me started so I am eternally thankful to the publisher for taking that chance with me.