I used to draw cartoons at school when I was supposed to be doing work. Since then I’ve had a number of different jobs, including working in a book warehouse, as a student (twice), as a nursery worker (twice), a bookshop assistant, a toyshop assistant, and a care worker (also twice). At the moment I’m working with children and I’m also a student (again).
I still draw cartoons. I’ve always liked drawing and making stories and have cleared space for makeshift studios in a number of rooms over the years. Mostly I draw wherever there is space. I live in York, England, with my partner, Jade.
When making pictures I work mostly in acrylic, watercolor, pencil, ink, and collage. I like to create pictures that look a little homemade and write stories that deal with the kinds of things that preoccupy you when you’re little. My first picture book, The Nowhere Box, was inspired by a childhood love of hide-and-seek. I was trying to imagine the best hiding place ever and Nowhere seemed perfect. My second picture book, Nobody’s Perfect, is written by David Elliott and features a very noisy little sister.
Three Things You May Not Know About Me:
1. When I was little I had a cat, two hamsters, four gerbils, and lots of fish. In the place I live now we are not allowed pets, so I just have a potted plant.
2. I used to sleepwalk quite regularly but have settled down lately. Now I just talk in my sleep every so often.
3. I asked Jade to marry me in the acknowledgments section of one of my books—luckily she said yes!
|