I grew up in the countryside where there were always plenty of animals around to draw. I used to spend my time writing stories and turning them into tiny picture books. So creating visual narratives started at a very early age and has continued ever since. It was my love of picture books that made me decide to do an MA in children’s book illustration. One of the picture books I created “A Mermaid on my Hand” was highly commended in the MacMillan children’s illustration competition. I am inspired by many things – folk art, European fairytales, Renaissance Florence but more than anything else children themselves including my own.

Illustrators need to understand how emotion influences body language so they create character studies to get to know their characters and how they behave. Heather has kindly shared some of hers. 


You can see more of Heather's work on her website Heather Dickinson