Spring has sprung, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is over and the London Book Fair is upon us so that can only mean one thing – the Arena Illustration Spring Brochure is ready to be unveiled!
Inspirational Ideas from the Finest Creative Talent
It is always such a delight to walk into a book shop and see our illustrator’s wonderful images on the covers of so many books; from pre-school to teens, fact to fiction, our artists never fail to impress.
Thomas Flintham’s successful collaboration with Pamela Butchart saw the pair as runners up for the Red House Book Awards and they won the prestigious Blue Peter Best Story Book Award 2015 for, The Spy Who Loved School Dinners (Nosy Crow). Tom has realised his lifetime ambition of owning a Blue Peter badge.
Alex T Smith’s new picture book, Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion (Scholastic) is already receiving rave reviews – this “riotous romp of a story” was the Editor’s Book of the Month in The Bookseller. Egmont commissioned him to illustrate their sumptuous new edition of the endearing classic, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, and his seventh book in the ever popular Claude series, Lights! Camera! Action! (Hodder), will be published later this year.
Jonny Duddle celebrated World Book Day in front of a 5000 strong crowd of children at Preston North End FC, he also appeared on Newsround dressed as a pirate clutching his World Book Day book, A Pirate’s Guide to Landlubbing. His latest swashbuckling, piratey adventure, Jolley-Rogers and The Cave of Doom (Templar), sees our plucky little heroine, Matilda, save Jim Lad and his pirate family from the clutches of evil sea hags.
Steve May’s collaboration with fellow prankster, Steven Butler, on the Diary of Dennis the Menace (Puffin), goes from strength to strength with the fifth book well underway after a very special edition for World Book Day.
Adam Stower continues his Troll and The Oliver adventures with Grumbug, (Templar) the biggest, meanest, greenest and grumpiest Troll of all which will publish in June. He is about to embark on an exciting new fiction project for David Fickling Books, so watch this space!
Emily Fox is illustrating a new adventure series for Stripes, aptly called, Fox Investigates, and look out for the publication of her first picture book, The Elephant’s Pyjamas, (Harper Collins) written by Michelle Robinson.
Kristyna Litten has created a charming cover for the classic, Wind in the Willows (Faber and Faber) and has just completed writing and illustrating a new picture book, Blue and Bertie for Simon & Schuster.
Aleksei Bitskoff has effortlessly branched into funny fiction for TV presenting duo, Sam & Mark’s new book, The Adventures of Long Arm (Scholastic).
Neal Layton’s collaboration with Michael Rosen, Monster, (Bloomsbury) is a brilliant follow-up to their bestselling Rover and Howler, continuing the four-legged narrator’s chaotic adventures when he goes to school with his pet human.
Tomislav Tomic’s beautiful illustrations and hand lettering are the perfect accompaniment to Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s stunning collection of Faery Tales, (Faber & Faber).
By Anna Chernyshova
Do you need young novelty illustrations, or older quirky characters and funny faces, we cover teen fantasy and adventure too.
Levi Pinfold, Frances Castle, Christopher Gibbs and Fred Gambino
Perhaps you would like Simon Bartram’s new pencil style for your classic story?
Bill Sykes by Simon Bartram
If you need something original from one of our individual and carefully crafted list of artists, give us a call and we’ll do our best to meet your needs. Please take a look at our Spring Brochure, a portfolio of amazing new work by our very talented illustrators.
