When I was a child, I was always happiest with a pencil and a scrap of paper to scribble on, as many young children are. I’d spend my time drawing comics, inventing traps or highly explosive rockets, copying my favourite ‘Transformer’ of the week, sketching scenes from ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Indiana Jones’, or sometimes making detailed copies of the old war planes from my Dad’s books…


I was fortunate enough to have parents who let me decide for myself exactly which path I shoud take through the education system, and so as many do, I decided to pursue my passion for ‘Art’. (Although the explosive possibilities of building those rockets via science or mechanics appealed to me for a short time.)

After some painful years of leading the life of a struggling 'Fine Art' student, which can be quite depressing, I realised what I really wanted to do was simply to design and draw, I discovered the Visual Communication department. A few enjoyable years later and I'd graduated from Loughborough University School of Art and Design with a first in Illustration. My tutor was Mario Minichiello who made a big impression on my rationale as a wan-a-be-illustrator, as he does with many of his students.

So I left with a little talent and a lot of determination and was thrust into the sink or swim world of the ‘ASDA Produce Section’, which nearly undid all Mario’s good work. Fortunately my determination pulled me through, and very slowly illustrative commissions started to come my way.

Now I am almost all grown up and I’m lucky enough to be able to do what I always wanted to do for a living, make pictures!

I like to try and work in as many areas of printed illustration that clients will allow me to, from ideas based commissions with a quick turnaround to larger projects, sequential imagery and character development. Previous jobs have included creating imagery for advertising, packaging, posters, cards, magazines, newspapers and children’s publishing.

After a few years as a practising illustrator I slowly developed my visual language into this area and my first children’s picture book won a ‘Silver Medal’ in the 'Best of British Illustration' exhibition, presented to me by the Association of Illustrators. Since then I have worked on lots of other books for children, you can have gander at some of them in my ‘Publications’ section.

Recently I have turned my attention to developing my own stories. My first self-written book, ‘My Grandpa’s Amazing Inventions’ is to be published by Templar later this year, while the next one is waiting to be set free from the confines of my sketchbook!

I have worked on a lot of really nice jobs and with some great people over the last few years. Some of my favourites include decorating the Marks and Spencer’s Christmas Food range, working for The Times newspaper, The Radio Times magazine and Illustrating the Cadburys Easter Food packaging. My favourite children's books that I have worked on, so far, are ‘Aesop’s Fables’, ‘If Elephants Wore Trousers’, ‘Around the World in Eighty Tales’, ‘The Peter Pan Puzzle Book’ and, of course, my own story ‘My Grandpa’s Amazing Inventions’.

I currently live in Lincolnshire with my partner who is a jewellery designer.

When I’m not making pictures I like to fly my kites or explore the woods where I live, there are plenty of stories waiting to be found just around the next tree. I also like a drink or two with my pals and enjoy looking after my partner’s Grandparent’s garden, but probably not in that order. I am also fond of collecting things, I like strange and old toys, and hunting down interesting imagery on my travels.

Telephone: +44 07931 136 235

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The Organisation Illustration Agency
Lorraine Owen

69 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9BT
U.K

Telephone: +44 (0)207 833 8268

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New York Office | Pauline Mason

E-mail: masonpmac@yahoo.com
Telephone: 917 586 6514