Artist Feature Heather Heyworth Jun 20 2014

Today’s artist feature is the talented Heather Heyworth! Here at Advocate Art, we love her decorative illustrations that we think are perfect for children’s book illustrations. Not only does she have a really cute, humorous young illustration style but she also creates beautiful, detailed illustrations for the older market too. Have a look at more of her illustrations at her online portfolio. I live in a sleepy Suffolk market town with my teenage son and fluffy Persian cat, Wooster. Since an early age I have enjoyed drawing and making things. I recall making dollhouses out of cardboard boxes (complete with furnishings, fittings and fixtures), and creating tiny fabric mice and fairies in pretty dresses, which helped me get my Brownies toy making badge. Art was my favourite subject at school. I spent most weekends absorbed in my art homework, producing paintings and drawings ready to show my enthusiastic art teacher, Mr White, the following week. Unsurprisingly I went on to study art, obtaining a higher diploma in art and design at Goldsmiths College, London. My first job was for an audiovisual studio in Kensington London, where I later became Studio Manager. In need of a change and craving more creativity I later landed a job with the greeting card company Gordon Fraser. I was lucky to get the position of art editor, personal assistant to Ian Fraser and even luckier to commission great illustrators such as Mick Inkpen, Nick Butterworth, Babette Cole and Anthony Brown. This experience helped inspire me into a freelance illustration and design career. Since then I have been involved in a very successful giftwrap company and have co-owned a licensed character publishing business. I have illustrated greeting cards, giftwrap and calendars, and designed plush toys and packaging. My introduction into the world of children’s books started with illustrating, designing and co-publishing activity books for various publishers including Igloo. I have also assisted selling children’s books at the children’s book fairs in Bologna and Frankfurt, something that I enjoyed immensely. I wrote and illustrated my first picture book, ‘Riding on an Elephant,’ in 2009.  To date I have illustrated many books including educational, board and picture books.  I have a passion for illustration and can’t imagine doing anything else. Clients include. Tyndale, Samsung, Bloomsbury, Rockpool Children’s books, Hachette, Igloo, Tangerine Designs, Ravensburger, Woodmansterne, Peter Haddock, Oxford University Press, BBC Worldwide, Parragon, Random House, A&C Black, Wayland, Autumn Publishers, Picture Windows, Froebel, Blue Rabbit, Camden Graphics and Carlton Publishers. I work in the following mediums: Digital: Photoshop, Carol Painter, Illustrator and traditional.