Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Tina Macnaughton was born in Edinburgh  in Scotland and raised in the south of England where she currently live in Surrey with her husband and daughter.   She  began her illustration training when she drew as a little girl every night in bed on a little chalk board until everything was blue, pink or yellow much to the frustration of her mother.  Her parents’ back garden was like a small woodland and with it came lots of wildlife and so she was always chasing something or examining some creepy crawly much to the horror of the rest of her family. When she was asked by her teachers and other kids if she was going to be an artist when she grew up, her reply was usually ‘No way, I am going to be a vet!’ To the relief of many animals it dawned on Tina that she was much better at drawing animals than examining them.

After completing a HND in Graphic Design at Cumbria College of Art and Design, and briefly living in the Cayman Islands Tina went on to study Illustration at John Moores University from where I graduated in 1992 with BA Hons (2:1) degree in illustration.

After art college Tina worked as a graphic designer for seven years, working on products for children, until she deciding to go freelance in late 2001.
 
In the spring of 2002 Tina first met Little Tiger Press at the London book fair, and was later offered her first book contract. Tina’s very first picture book was ‘One Snowy Night’ written by M Christina Butler, about a Little Hedgehog in a red bobble hat.  It is still in print today and has spawned 15 book (and counting!) series with over 2 million book sales worldwide.

Since deciding to become a freelance illustrator Tina has illustrated more than 50 picture books, board books and early reader novels.  Her books have been published in 41 different countries and translated into 40 different languages, including ones from her family roots of Scottish Gaelic and Danish, and always loves to hear from readers from far flung places as well as closer to home.