I’m an illustrator who prefers pens and pencils to pixels. I’ve created more than 50 coloring books and I’m very proud to be a patron of my community. I’m on a mission to inspire the world to put down their devices and pick up a pen or pencil and create happy! Anyone can draw or be creative, you just need a little nudge! For me, computer generated artwork lacks the warmth and charm of something hand drawn, so I create all my artwork by hand, drawing first in pencil, then redrawing in ink. I love intricate details and try to craft images that invite you to pause and examine the artwork a little closer. Hidden within the flora and fauna are rogue butterflies, half hidden hedgehogs and even the odd little owl! I grew up on a farm in rural Ontario, Canada where my big brother and I had a very ‘free range’ childhood. We played outdoors; buildings dens, creating secret gardens and paddling in the little river behind our house. This kind of play cultivated in me a wild imagination and a love of nature from an early age. I always loved to draw. I can’t ever remember a time when I didn’t want to pursue a creative career. In 2001, after graduating from Bachelor of Art degree in mathematics from York University, I interned for a while before making the move to set-up my own studio. Initially I made hand printed wallpaper and small collections of home accessories, but the recession hit. Business was tricky and it forced me to realise my heart wasn’t in manufacturing and selling, it was in drawing. In late 2021 I was approached by a publisher to make a coloring book for children. I found the idea of a coloring book interesting but decided to try something different. My pitch for a sophisticated, grown-up coloring book seemed a little odd at that time, but I drew up the first 5 pages, sent them over and got the thumbs up. In spring 2023 first was launched. What followed surprised us all… My 54 books have been embraced by Colorists and Creatives the world over and I’m privileged to be a part of this amazing community. These days I spend my time in the studio flitting between creating artwork for my books, dreaming up ideas for new products to be emblazoned with my black and white artwork and of course, organizing all those pens and pencils! I live in Ontario with my 2 parents.

Polly Cheeseman is an experienced writer and editor with a particular interest in science and nature for children. She has worked on a wide variety of publications, including books, annuals, magazines and part-work collections.Bethany Lord is a freelance illustrator based in London. She graduated in Illustration from the Arts University Bournemouth in 2018 and most recently from Kingston University in 2019 with an MA in Communication Design: Illustration. She was highly commended by Macmillan books in 2018 for her final third year book project. Bethany's work includes children's book illustration, maps, travel editorial illustration, and packaging illustration.

HarperCollins' newest imprint, Booktopus, aims to inspire a love for books in young children by creating engaging and fun experiences. It seeks to provide high-quality products for children aged 0-6 years which will be loved by them and valued by parents and educators alike. The eight arms of its lovable octopus mascot stand for the key features of these books- fun, exciting, playful, interesting, entertaining, creative,engaging and captivating.We invite you to dive into a world of fun with Booktopus!