Lauren Ace is from south Wales, studied Drama at the University of Exeter and now lives in London, where she has worked in publishing for ten years. An award-winning publicist, Lauren looked after Julia Donaldson during her tenure as Children’s Laureate and has managed campaigns for World Book Day and the announcement of Chris Riddell as Children’s Laureate. The Girls is her first picture book. | @LaceyPR
Laura Borio used to draw on the kitchen walls as a child, to the delight of her parents. Once she realised that she liked drawing on paper more, she decided to become a children’s book illustrator, and now her days are filled with sketches, colours, cats and raspberry jam croissants.
Laura has always loved stories, drawing and chocolate. Luckily, being an illustrator means she happily spends her days enjoying all of the above! The rest of the time Laura spends with her dogs and horses – then eats some more chocolate!
Laura studied animation in her hometown of Madrid. But she decided that creating characters, and telling their stories in her own way, was so much fun that she became an illustrator instead. Rainy days are her favourites, where you’ll find her drawing in her studio beside her sleepy dog and a noisy little heater.
Originally from Bath, Laura studied illustration at Kingston University and graduated in 2005. When not drawing, Laura loves to curate art exhibitions and invite all her favourite artists to take part. Laura is one third of Studio Mama Wolf: a small, independent creative collective, soon to launch their new open shop and illustration studio space.
Lee is an illustrator working in children’s fiction and educational publishing. He also designs greetings cards, apps, novelty toys and bus stops. Lee lives with his wife, children and their rabbit in North West England.
Lee Wildish lives in Lancashire and has been illustrating from a very young age. He loves illustrating children’s books and thinks there’s nothing better than seeing people laughing at a book he’s illustrated.
Leire Martín is an illustrator from San Sebastián, Spain. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and a Master’s degree in CGI. She worked as a 3D artist for three years, but drawing has always been her passion, so she decided to leave it all and become a professional illustrator. She has worked for many publishing companies and has also created the illustrations for magazines and toys.
