I love detail, humour and fun in illustration, inspired by my childhood favourites: Janet and Allan Ahlberg (especially Burglar Bill), Shirley Hughes (especially The Trouble with Jack) Graham Oakley, Raymond Briggs, Quentin Blake, Helen Oxenbury, John Burningham, Brian Wildsmith, David McKee, Judith Kerr, the list goes on …

I live in a village in Essex with the spouse, our beloved dog and our slightly less beloved cat. Sorry Audrey but you do insist upon sleeping on my head.

Many years ago I got a B in GCSE art. Decades later I’m still salty about it and can’t say I remember the art teacher with particular fondness. Not emotionally mature I know. Maybe one day I will let it go? In the meantime I continue to blame Mr C for putting the dampener on my artistic ambitions. It’s easier that way.

Virginia Woolf was definitely on to something with that room of one’s own thing because now I am lucky enough to have a room that I can clutter up with paints, pens, paper, glue etc and I never have to tidy up. Unless I want to, which is rare. Deluxe living.