About Katie.

Hi, I'm Katie May, an Illustrator living in the Staffordshire Moorlands. In addition to illustrating and designing stationery, I've worked as a photographer in Turkey, before my lifelong love of books and children's illustration inspired me to study for my MA in Children's book Illustration at ARU, Cambridge.

I am interested in the narratives found in everyday life, the seemingly insignificant details that are often missed and in finding beauty in unexpected places. I love to draw by hand, using sketchbooks and working from life to create a believable sense of place.

Travel has always informed and influenced my illustration practice. During the MA I found inspiration from my childhood memories and enjoyed creating wordless narratives. These offer total immersion in imaginative storytelling and opportunities for the reader to become a co-creator.

I love working with mixed media, particularly pencil crayon and soft pastel, drawing using tone and shape to create atmosphere within the constraints of a limited palette.