The school careers advisor frowned deeply. ‘You must have an alternative career planned… as a back-up, in case things don’t work out for you. Have you another career in mind?’ ‘I am going to be an illustrator. There is no plan B.’‘Miss Brown, it is not an easy job to succeed in. You must have a plan B.’
And he was right. I struggled for far too long to find my way in. Too long, and yet it seemed to be the right time to start. I had matured enough to shape my characters and settings with a life that I had learnt through soaking up images throughout the years. I was 40 when my illustrating life began. Two years on and I have several books and book covers under my belt including ‘If Big Can… I Can’ which was shortlisted for the Book Trust Early Years Award. Illustrating for children is far harder work than I had ever imagined but immensely satisfying and such fun.