Tina_Macnaughton

I have had the pleasure of working as a freelance illustrator since 2002 and in that time illustrated more than 50 picture books, board books and early reader books, including the international bestselling series of Little Hedgehog picture books with author M. Christina Butler and published by Little Tiger Press. I was born in Edinburgh in Scotland and raised in the south of England where I now currently live in Surrey with my husband and daughter. I began my illustration training when I drew every night in bed as a girl on a little chalk board until everything was blue, pink or yellow much to the frustration of my mother. My parents’ back garden was like a small woodland and with it came lots of wildlife and so I was always chasing something or examining some creepy crawly much to the horror of the rest of my family. When I was asked by my teachers and other kids if I was going to be an artist when I grew up, my reply was usually ‘No way, I am going to be a vet!’ To the relief of many animals it dawned on me that was much better at drawing animals than examining them. After completing a HND in Graphic Design at Cumbria College of Art and Design, and briefly living in the Cayman Islands I went on to study Illustration at John Moores University from where I graduated in 1992 with BA Hons (2:1) degree in illustration and later went freelance My first picture book was 'One Snowy Night', written by M Christina Butler, about a Little Hedgehog in a red bobble hat. It has since spawned an international best selling series of books with over two million copies sold worldwide. It also kick started my freelance illustration career and led to further commissions, so I am very thankful to that little prickly fellow and to my publishers, Little Tiger Press, for believing in me.