I am delighted to say that Frances has recruited two very talented new illustrators to FMI.
Here Frances describes the first illustrator, Sally Symes.
"Sally Symes, who I have known for some time, creates, writes and illustrates her own books. She has collaborated with many illustrators and writers to produce some great books over the passed few years, now she wants to concentrate on her own illustrations.
Sally is very keen to develop her own books for babies as well and illustrations for older pre-school children. Many of her books do have unique novelty elements.
Sally Symes trained in Brighton She has worked as a designer and art director in children’s publishing since leaving college in 1992, she is passionate about quality novelty book formats and illustration.
Sally set up independently in 2004 to develop her own book concepts, and teamed up with Nick Sharratt to create the award winning Gross Guides: “The Gooey, Chewy, Rumble Plop Book” and “The Icky, Sticky, Blood and Snot Book.” (Bodley Head).
Sally has written and created a number of other titles with Nick; ”Something Beginning With Blue” (Southampton’s Favourite Book to Share Award 2011), “Yawn,” (2011) “Whose Nose and Tail and Toes are Those?” and “A Boot, A Hat, Now Who Is That?” (2012) all published by Walker Children’s Books".
Next up Frances describes the second illustrator to join the fold, Algy Craig Hall.
"Algy is a very talented illustrator who has written and illustrated books for David Bennett at Boxer books. He has a very appealing style for young children and I am sure that he is going to build a successful career illustrating picture books. Clients who have already seen his work were very enthusiastic.
Algy gained an MA in children’s book illustration from Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge School of Art in 2007. During his time on the course his work was highly commended in the MacMillan Prize. Algy also has a degree in Economics & Politics, and when he is not creating picture books, he works as a financial journalist for the Investors Chronicle magazine, an FT publication.
Algy has had two picture books published by Boxer Books Fine as We Are, published by in 2007 and short-listed for the Read It Again! Children’s book prize and the Norfolk Picture Book Award. This was followed The Scariest Monster in the World, also published by Boxer Books and short listed in the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010. Mammoth and Me, the second book both written and illustrated by Algy, was published earlier this year.
I am really pleased to welcome them both to Frances McKay Illustration and I am sure they are going to prove to be very successful members of the team".
A big welcome to both Sally and Algy, and we hope to see a lot more of their amazinfg work here on the FMI blog.
