2023 | Longlist + Shortlist | Children's Publishing

Preferred Pronoun?
he/him.his

Why did you choose to enter this work?
Each one of my About Animals books is a real labour of love and as a result, I'm really proud of them. I really enjoyed drawing penguins and finding interesting ways to share information about them.

What’s your favourite thing about your shortlisted project?
Having black and white as the colours for the main subjects gave me some freedom with the other colours I could use, and I really like how the colours turned out.

What excites you most about being shortlisted?
You put work into the world and often don't get any feedback from people, especially people involved in the industry. The quality of the longlisted work was so high so I'm chuffed to be shortlisted.

Where do you usually work?
I have a studio in my garden. I have 3 kids, so being home but not in amongst everything means I can be flexible with work, but focus easily too.

How long did it take to complete your project?
About a year from start to finish. It was a project completed in stages throughout the year, allowing time for extensive research, team feedback and fact-checking from the real biologists.

What is your dream commission?
Creating illustrations and branding for a music festival that I love.

What’s your favourite thing to draw?
Animals.

What is your best tip for other illustrators?
Meet deadlines

What are your plans for the future?
I'm releasing a self-made card game called Fame & Fable on Kickstarter later this year, which I'm super excited about.


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Owen Davey
Owen Davey