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 had great fun talking to Sarah Shotts on her Kindle Curiosity Podcast - I will let you know when this goes live.

I will be speaking at The Nuts and Bolts Picture Book Conference - Cambridge School of Art, Saturday 28th July 2018. Tickets available here.

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