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When I was very
small, I would draw on the blank pages of my parent’s books, on walls,
envelopes and any scrap paper I could get my hands on. I was told I
was good at it. More importantly, I loved to do it. It was
instinctive. It is one of two things that come naturally to me; the
other is self-consciousness.
 It
has taken me the eight years since graduating from the University of
Westminster to build up my confidence, to take myself seriously and to try
to make a living from drawing. Having studio space at Barton Hall
has helped hugely.
Mostly, I write and illustrate stories and poems for children. The
main themes throughout my work are justice, secrets, triumph over
adversity, being ‘different’, ‘good’ versus ‘evil’, magic, nonsense and
humour. I have more ideas than I have time to pursue them. I’m
hoping that I get to complete the better ones.
I am most comfortable with a pencil in my hand. I avoid using colour
when possible, which used to be a problem for me until I read that one of
my most favourite illustrators, Edward Gorey, felt the same way.
I try to ‘stick to what I know’, be truthful and entertain and by doing
so, hopefully, I will connect with other people.
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