I have illustrated lots of books for children, but The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau is the book I have enjoyed most so far, it is the true story about the French painter Henri Rousseau. I walked all over Paris to gather ideas and impressions about Henri before I started the pictures.

I went to art school in Cambridge, England, and studied illustration. From the word go I felt comfortable drawing pictures for books.

I work in my studio in the middle of my jungle garden. I use water colour paints and pencil crayons, but now gouache and acrylics too.

Henri Rousseau has always been one of my favourite painters, so it was wonderful to be asked to illustrate this book about his life and work.  The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau: written by Michelle Markel and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers