Have you always loved to draw?

I liked to doodle when I was at school - I would cover the margins of my notebooks with patterns, flowers and cat faces. At least, that's what my friend says as I cannot remember this at all. When I posted my first illustrations on instagram a few years ago, my friend said, 'Hey, you used to doodle all the time at school, remember? I knew you had to pursue a creative career'. So I guess I can say I've always loved to draw even though I don't quite remember it.

Animals feature heavily in children’s books – do you have a pet?

I've got a cat!

Did you attend art school or undertake any other formal artistic training?

I'm a self-taught artist. I learnt everything I know watching videos of differnet artists creating their works on Instagram and YouTube .  I did an online course on illustration with Make Art That Sell (MATS) in 2020, which was an amazing experience - I felt a part of the creative community surrounded by so many talented people and guided by some great teachers. 

What was your first commission as a professional illustrator?

A friend of mine asked me to create a cover for his single album. To tell the truth, I was so surprised, I had to ask a few times if he really wanted an illustration in my style to represent a rock song. But he was absolutely serious about it and this is how I got my first serious commission.

Do you keep a sketch book?

Yes! This is a thing I carry around all the time.

How many times do you tend to draw a character until you are happy with it?

I would normally redraw the same character again and again until I know that I absolutely love it. Even if there' s one small thing  - the shape of the tail or the ears or the outfit - that I'm not 100% happy with, I will keep changing it until I know that this is it. 

Share your favourite piece of artwork from your portfolio and walk us through its creation.

This piece is from my upcoming book Rupert the Cat, it's called 'Partners in Crime'.

In the illustration the cat and the mouse are trying to steal a book to bake an apple pie (spoiler: they will return it in the end). I love the atmosphere of this piece - I think it's intense but also funny at the same time. The main focus of the illustration is the bright window - this is what the readers will notice first. Then their eyes will move to the cat and the mouse as they will be figuring out what is going on in the picture. There are not many details in this illustration, but I tried to make the background interesting and cozy using soft colours and adding greens to balance the brownish-redish colours of the brick wall.

When you are not drawing, how do you like to relax?

I love playing board games with friends. We meet in a local cafe every Friday evening and spend a couple hours playing and chatting. I also go running in the morning or swimming when it's warm enough outside. I'm pretty good at playing pool too. If I'm really tired, I like taking a hot bath and reading or watch something fun.

If you weren’t an illustrator, what would you be doing?

Difficult question. I'd probably be an illustrator anyway cause I cannot imagine a different life for me - I absolutely love what I'm doing.

What advice would you offer someone just starting out as a children’s illustrator?

Believe in yourself. You can absolutely do it. Your style will develop over time through practice and it will be as unique as you are. Compare yourself to yourself a year ago, not to other artists. Get off social media when they stop motivating you. Find a community. Only share your work with people who support and encourage you. Don't copy. Be yourself.

Who or what made you want to become an illustrator?

My Kindergarten teacher would always say I was good at arts and thanks to her I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grow up. However, life had different plans for me - I went to a financial school and worked as a marketing manager until one day I suddenly realised I had more art supplies than Philip Kotler books. Each time I went to a bookstore I would buy a brush or a paint tube or a pencil or an eraser. I was so fascinated by these things, I just wanted to have them all for myself. I started actually painting only in 2017, even though my friend says I had been doodling all the time I was supposed to be listening to my college professors, however I can hardly recall this fact. In 2020 my career was put hold due to the global pandemic and I decided to spend the free time which I suddenly had plenty of and take a course in illustrating children’s books with Make Art That Sells (MATS). I was amazed at how rewarding being a kids artist could be - seeing a child’s eyes light up when they are looking at your watercolour bunny or hearing an adult say your work reminds them of their favourite children’s book means the world to me. This is how I made the decision to become a children’s books illustrator.

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

I'm dyslexic.