Speaking and Events
I speak at book festivals, visit schools and run workshops for adults or children. For enquiries, please get in touch. Exciting news: I will be making some free resources for teachers. Sign up for my schools newsletter at the bottom of this page.
Past Events
I have visited many, many schools and libraries all over the UK and abroad. I won't list them all here, but you can read some reviews here. Below are some of the other events I have done:
I will be doing a How to Hide a Lion event for families at The Globe Theatre - 28th July 2019
Picture Hooks Mentoring Scheme 2019 - I am mentoring Chie Hosaka and we will be doing events at The National gallery of Scotland later in 2019
The Durham Book Festival 2019
Fall into Books Festival 2018
The Nuts and Bolts Picture Book Conference - Cambridge School of Art, Saturday 28th July 2018.
The National Gallery of Scotland - lecture and picture book making workshop for adults 2017
Picture Hooks Mentoring Scheme - mentored a recent graduate Kirsti Beautyman for a year. She won the 'Picture Hooks Illustrator of the Year' 2017
Hashtag Authentic Podcast - chatted to Sara Tasker (instagram's Me-&-Orla) on her brilliant podcast 2017
The Alnwick Playhouse - event for children, followed by making a How to Hide a Lion window display 2017
The Story Museum - dragons exhibition 2017
Seven Stories - a number of live drawing and workshops for children, as well as painting a mural 2008 - now
Cambridge School of Art - occasional lectures and teaching on the 'Illustrating for Children MA' 2006 - now
Northern Children's Book Festival - a number of school visits 2017
Tales on Moon Lane - shop event with live drawing and painted a How to Hide a Lion at School shop window 2017
Kew Bookshop - painted shop window 2017
Cambridge School of Art Illustrating for Children Summer School - tutor and key speaker 2016
BBC Radio Newcastle - various interviews about my books and prizes 2011- 2017
The Polka Theatre Sunday Session - live drawing event for children 2016
Hartlepool Festival of Illustration - exhibition 2016
Alligator's Mouth - painted How to Hide a Lion shop window 2016
Pickled Pepper Books - painted How to Hide a Lion shop window 2016
Tate Britain - live drawing event for children 2016
Foyles Summer of Fun - live drawing and workshop with Alex T. Smith 2016
Niddfest - live drawing event for children 2016
The Bookcase Hebden Bridge - painted How to Hide a Lion shop window 2016
Berwick Book Festival - school visits and large events in the Guildhall 2015- 2016
Edinburgh Book Festival - live drawing event for children 2015
Cheltenham Festival - have appeared at Cheltenham a few times, sometimes for large school audiences, sometmes in smaller venues 2015 - 2017
SCBWI - tutor on residential retreat (twice) 2014 and 2015
Mainstreet Trading St Boswells - painted Mimi and the Mountain Dragon shop window for Christmas 2014
Mainstreet Trading St Boswells - event with Michael Morpurgo to launch our book 2014
Hexham Book Festival - event on stage with Michael Morpurgo to launch our book 2014
Durham Book Festival - event for 500 excited school children 2014
The Association of Illustrators - various lectures over the years 2000 - 2015
The Bowes Museum - lecture for CCAD BA illustration students 2014
The Bowes Museum - exhibition of my illustration work and various workshops 2014
Spellbound - visited lots of libraries in the North East of England for the Spellbound project 2011-2013
Gallery Oldham 'In Pictures' - exhibition 2012
Hay-on-Wye Festival - live drawing event and workshop for children 2009
Aye Write Festival Glasgow - live drawing event for children 2009
Richmond Walking Festival - workshop for children 2010
Ilkley Literature Festival - live drawing event for children 2009
Blue Peter - appeared to talk about Fleabag which was up for a Blue Peter Book Award 2008
Birmingham Literature Festival - library events 2008
Putney School of Art - talk for adults about making picture book 2007
Beverley Literature Festival - I have done this festival four or five times running picturebook workshops for children 2003 - 2007