About Kate
Kate Read is a children's book illustrator and writer based in Norfolk, UK.
She has recently gained an MA in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge (2018)
Kate originally trained as a Theatre Designer at Wimbledon School of Art and subsequently Textiles at Morley College in London
Illustrations made by hand
I have always loved playing with paper, back when I studied textiles I spent all my time dyeing, stitching and cutting up paper into intricate shapes. I drew on it and constructed three dimensional shapes using dressmaking techniques and enjoying the textures and happy accidents.
Now I do the same, painting cutting, dyeing, printing and drawing to create textures to illustrate picture books.
Every image starts with drawing so I can work out the shape and personality of the animal or person I am illustrating. I really enjoy observational drawing but it’s playing with paint, scissors and glue that I really enjoy and that is when my work starts to come alive. I try to embrace mistakes as a sign of creation by human hands and incorporate them into my work.
I graduated in 2018 from the renowned MA in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, it was a life changing course and I am eternally grateful to all the inspiring students and tutors I met on my illustration journey.
A love of picture books
I think that I have the best job in the world and I am lucky enough to be represented by Hilary Delamere at The Agency - please click here for any literary illustration enquiries.
My first book 'One Fox' is out now with the wonderful Two Hoots (Macmillan) It can be bought in all good bookshops both in Paperback and Hardback.
My new Two Hoots book, 'BOO! A Fishy Mystery' is out in Spring 2021
ENQUIRIES- For all prints or commissions which aren't yet for sale in my shop, drop me an email and I'll arrange printing.
EMAIL-
photo by Beth Moseley
AWARDS
One Fox shortlisted for the UKLA book awards 2021
Winner of the Mathical Book Prize 2020
Shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2020
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Childrens Book Prize 2020
Ezra Jack Keats Honouree 2020
Shortlisted for The Cambridgeshire Libraries 'Read it Again Award' 2020
Shortlisted for the 'Queen's Knickers 'Award, the Society of Authors 2020
New York Public Library recommended list 2019
Winner of the Cybils Awards - Fiction Picture Book 2019
Awarded a Kirkus Star for One Fox 2019
Gold Award from the Parent's Choice Foundation 2019
Winner of SCWBI Undiscovered Voices 2018
Student teacher on the Cambridge School of Art Children's Book Illustration Summer School 2018
Shortlisted for the Batsford Prize and Picturehooks 2018