I learned a huge amount during that time in art education, but I think my path towards a career in picture books began with my love of reading comics and cartoons. In particular "Peanuts”, by the great Charles M. Schulz, showed me the depth of emotion that you can convey with a dot for an eye or simple line - if you put it in the right place! Before I became a full-time illustrator and writer, I did many other jobs including teaching English, working in a bookshop and designing Christmas and Halloween point-of-sale for Asda!