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

I was one of those fortunate people who always knew exactly what they wanted to do for a living. Having got a place on an illustration course at 15, I spent the rest of my school days looking out of the window, until I could start.

The colouring-in courses continued with a first class Graphic Design degree in the mid 1980s, and a Masters in Fine Art in the early 21st century

Who or what has been your greatest mentor?

The late, wonderful Ron Heapy, children's book publisher at Oxford University Press. His wonderful line "just go away and make me a book" was so empowering - he had the gentelest editorialhand. 

Do you keep a sketch book?

Always - and a writing notebook, too!

What is your favourite children’s book and why?

It absoluley HAS to be When Marnie was there - such a wonderful Out of Time feeling throught the book. There's a wharehouse associated with Lord Harlech on the far side of the estuary I live by - it reminds me so much of The Marsh House in the story. 

Take us behind the scenes and describe your studio / workspace.

I work from home between the mountains and the sea in Snowdonia, north Wales. The landscape is ancient and soaked in myth, and the ever-changing light is a constant inspiration in my work. Two shaggy dogs act as personal trainers making sure we get out under those skies. We live in a tiny former chapel, which my husband has been making in to our home - he's a blackbelt in Extreme DIY!

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

I'd be a character dancer in a pantomime chorus. A plump washerwoman doing the polka, swirling around with a basket of laundry as my dance partner.