Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers was born in 1977 in Australia, but spent his formative years in Northern Ireland. Always a creative spirit, Jeffers experimented with many mediums before finally settling on story illustrations. His first breakthrough came in 1995, when he was hired by multiple publishing companies to illustrate book jackets. This, however, did not solidify his career as a children’s book illustrator. Until he finished his degree in Illustration and Visual Communication from the University of Ulster in 2000, Jeffers traveled widely and supported himself through small art exhibitions and commissioned work (Harper Collins Publishers, 2016).
On a return trip to visit Australia, Jeffers became inspired to write his first children’s book. He sent the manuscript to HarperCollins, and How to Catch a Star was published in 2004 (Harper Collins Publishers, 2016). In 2005, How to Catch a Star won a merit award from Bisto Book of the Year. Jeffers second book, Lost and Found, also received great praise. In 2005, Lost and Found won the Gold Award of the Nestle Children’s Book Prize. Many of Jeffers’ other picture books have also won multiple awards, including the New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Smarties Award, Irish Book of the Year, the Red House Book Award, British Book Design Award, and the Blue Peter Book of the Year (Jeffers, 2016). Jeffers books have been translated into thirty different languages, and are available worldwide. He now lives in New York, and continues to write and illustrate.
On a return trip to visit Australia, Jeffers became inspired to write his first children’s book. He sent the manuscript to HarperCollins, and How to Catch a Star was published in 2004 (Harper Collins Publishers, 2016). In 2005, How to Catch a Star won a merit award from Bisto Book of the Year. Jeffers second book, Lost and Found, also received great praise. In 2005, Lost and Found won the Gold Award of the Nestle Children’s Book Prize. Many of Jeffers’ other picture books have also won multiple awards, including the New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Smarties Award, Irish Book of the Year, the Red House Book Award, British Book Design Award, and the Blue Peter Book of the Year (Jeffers, 2016). Jeffers books have been translated into thirty different languages, and are available worldwide. He now lives in New York, and continues to write and illustrate.
Retrieved from http://www.oliverjeffers.com/film/author-film-2014
Tatyana feeney
Tatyana Feeney is a North Carolina native who grew up and went to university in Chapel Hill. After studying art history in school, Feeney turned to illustrating after a career in primary education. This occurred at a point in time that she was living temporarily in Budapest, Hungary. From this experience Feeney believes you can see many Eastern European influences in her illustrations (Feeney, 2016).
To pursue her new dream of being a picture book author and illustrator, Feeney left Budapest for London. Here, she studied illustration at Saint Martin’s College. From her education, Feeney developed a unique style of printmaking, collage, and watercolor (Feeney, 2016). Her illustrations in Bunny’s Blue Blanket and Small Elephant’s Bathtime have been nominated for several awards, including the UKLA Book Award and Kate Greenway Medal (Prospect Portfolio, 2013). Feeney now lives in Ireland. Much of her inspiration for new stories comes from her previous life experiences, and new life with her husband and daughter.
To pursue her new dream of being a picture book author and illustrator, Feeney left Budapest for London. Here, she studied illustration at Saint Martin’s College. From her education, Feeney developed a unique style of printmaking, collage, and watercolor (Feeney, 2016). Her illustrations in Bunny’s Blue Blanket and Small Elephant’s Bathtime have been nominated for several awards, including the UKLA Book Award and Kate Greenway Medal (Prospect Portfolio, 2013). Feeney now lives in Ireland. Much of her inspiration for new stories comes from her previous life experiences, and new life with her husband and daughter.