FREQUENTLY ADKED QUESTIONS

What software and tools do you use for your digital illustrations?

“I always draw digitally on my iPad Pro. I have a refurbished 12.9” one (that saved on cost compared to buying a brand new one). I use this in conjunction with the Sketchboard Pro, which basically acts as an easel for the iPad. I also have a standing desk that I can change the height of as I like to move about (dance) and stand back from my work occasionally, while holding my best museum poses. I also of course need something to actually draw with…I use an Apple Pencil with a range of brushes, some that came with the procreate app, and some that I have purchased from various places along the way.”

How long does each illustration take from start to finish?

“This really depends on the complexity of the illustration that I’m working on. A full spread with characters and a background scene, from initial sketch to finished artwork, can sometimes take me beyond 24 hours! Something less challenging, such as a singular character may take just a few hours from start to finish. This is why it can take months and months for an illustrator to illustrate a full children’s picture book.”

How do you generate ideas as an illustrator?

“I like to take inspiration from the people in my life, mostly my kids and their crazy antics. Listening in to their conversations will sometimes just spark an idea, or watching them play, hunting for bugs and making up silly games…these things are all gold mines for illustration ideas. Other times I whip out a good old mind map and just jot down whatever comes to mind until something good pops up.”

Who are your favourite illustrators and artists?

“I love the detailed work of artists Jono Dry and Silvie Mahdal, and wish that I had the patience and time to produce work like this, but those days are long gone and I don’t tend to produce work to such a high level of realism anymore. After having children of my own, and spending a lot of time reading children’s books, I started to fall in love with the work of illustrators such as Katy Halford, Ag Jatkowska and Sayani Mukherjee to name a few.”