Authors and illustrators

Yumi Stynes

Yumi Stynes is a second-gen Japanese-Australian TV and radio presenter who’s worked in media for almost two decades. She’s currently the host of Ladies, We Need to Talk an award-winning podcast that explores all the trickiest topics and taboos about women’s health.

Tim Budgen

Tim was born in Surrey in 1977, and is a freelance illustrator. His illustration work has been described as “storytelling with whimsical charm, warmth and humour”, and he’d like to think that is pretty true! To date he has illustrated over 50 children’s books, including: ‘The Magic Pet Shop’ and the ‘20 at Bedtime’ series, and ‘This is Me’ by CBeebies star George Webster.

Valerio Vidali

Valerio Vidali is an Italian illustrator and picture book author. His book The Forest was a New York Time’s Best Illustrated book of 2018, as was his book Jemmy Button in 2013. His work has also received the Grand Prix of ILUSTRARTE, the International Biennal of Illustration; the CJ Picture Book Award and various honours. His latest book Hundred is nominated for the German Children’s Literature Award. Valerio lives and works in Porto, Portugal.

Tina Macnaughton

Tina was born in Edinburgh, and raised in southern England where she still lives today.

After graduating from John Moores University with a BA Hons in illustration, Tina worked as a graphic designer before going freelance in 2001.

Tina’s first picture book was ‘One Snowy Night’, about a Little Hedgehog in a red bobble hat which spawned an international, best-selling series.

Tina Nolan

Tina Nolan is the pen name of Jenny Oldfield, creator of Home Farm Twins and contributor to the Animal Ark series. She has written numerous best-selling books for children, and has a love and knowledge of animals that makes her the perfect author for Animal Rescue!

Tom Becker

Tom Becker grew up in a market town in the northwest of England dreaming of becoming a writer. He won the 2007 Waterstones’ Children’s Book Prize with his first novel, Darkside, and continued to blur the lines between history and fantasy in books such as The Traitors and While The Others Sleep. To date his books have been translated into over ten languages. He has also published a play, Until The Last Light Fades, and an adult novel, The Cold Tap, under his real name, Tom Beckerlegge. Tom lives in London with his wife, baby son, and a horde of shadowy creatures that he keeps confined within the pages of his notebook.

Tom McLaughlin

Tom McLaughlin studied at Falmouth College of Arts and has since worked as a cartoonist and an animation designer for Nick Toons. He has also published a picture book, The Diabolical Mr Tiddles. Tom lives in Devon with his wife, two boys and a sleepy cat.

Tom Nicoll

Tom Nicoll has been writing since school, where he enjoyed penning essays that were as silly as possible. Tom lives near Edinburgh with his wife and two daughters. He is the author of the successful THERE’S A DRAGON IN MY… young fiction series, BOYBAND OF THE APOCALYPSE and LEVEL UP. Follow him @TGNicoll