Hello,

My name is Jo, I’m an illustrator based in New Zealand.

I grew up in England and always loved drawing and looking at all the illustrations in children’s books. I went to art school but didn’t end up with a degree because I was having too much fun. One day I went backpacking around Australia and bumped into a very nice kiwi man. I packed my bags and moved to NZ and we now have two grown-up human children and two utterly spoilt furry children who occasionally adorn the pages of my Instagram feed (usually with clothes on).

I’ve had rather a lot of jobs over the years and ended up becoming a qualified graphic designer but have also been a boat cleaner, a typist, a secretary, a waitress (not a very good one), a curtain maker (a terrible one) and a tour guide. I never gave up my dream of one day becoming an illustrator.

I keep a sketchbook when I’m not busy for doodling or drawing things around home or out and about. I enjoy the relaxation and it helps me organise my scatty mind.

I try to stay away from the computer and mainly use watercolour, ink and pencil, partly due to its portability but mostly because having spent many years in front of a screen, it’s a joy to work without one.

The Terrakeet is the first book I’ve illustrated. It’s published by Walker Books and Candlewick Press and is a collaboration with my school friend and talented author, Jo Van Der Borgh. We have another picture book coming out in 2026 :)