Fairy Tales

The Parragon name means quality, entertainment, and value and has been at the forefront of publishing for nearly 40 years. Going forward as an imprint of Cottage Door Press, the Parragon brand includes books that are interesting, entertaining, and affordable. The Parragon tradition continues….

After graduating from Canterbury College of Art, Kent, with a degree in Graphic design and working for a few years as a book designer, I began to work as a freelance artist, and I’ve illustrated over 40 books for children for a variety of authors, including Harry Secombe, Adrian Mitchell, Julia Jarman, Michael Rosen and Hilary McKay, as well as occasionally illustrating my own words too! Now I also design cards and prints for various ages and occasions.

After many years in London and even more in Suffolk, I’m now settled back in Kent with artist David Hayward. I have a studio at the Creek Creative building in Faversham, where I work rather untidily, but with great enthusiasm! Of course there’s a fatally delicious cafe downstairs, as well as the shop where you can buy my pictures, cards and books on the spot…..PLUS my new book: HODGE PODGE LODGE (a rubbish story) will be published November 1st…The idea for the story came from the distress at seeing so much careless litter on walking paths and lanes. I love walking (Saxon Shore Way, Coast to coast, Pennine Way etc etc) and along with my walking friends would love to hope the book will have some small impact!

As you might guess from the ukulele cards, I play the ukulele in, ahem, a ukulele band, with the odd gig thrown in!