I grew up on the outskirts of Leicester, but spent most half terms and holidays in West Wales. Stories have always been a huge part of my life. For me, stories are doorways into different worlds.

When I was twelve, we had an English homework to write a desert island short story inspired by Robinson Crusoe. I got carried away and ended up writing a 65 page story, full of illustrations, which I made into a little hardback book (cardboard cover).

At university, I studied illustration. It was here that I came up with the story spark for Harklights, kindled by a personal project on forests and a return trip to Bradgate Park. Harklights was originally meant to be a picture book, but the flames of the story grew and grew into the novel it is today.

After teaching graphic design, graphic storytelling and illustration, I now run some of the children’s book illustration courses at City Lit in London.