Week 17 - Holly Surplice

We're keeping south bound as the book stays a week at Henley-on-Thames with the fantastic Holly Surplice.

Holly loves drawing animals because it makes her smile, which is probably why she does rather a lot of it! In between chasing around after her two very lively young daughters, she thrives on making bears balance on tortoises and guinea pigs bounce on pogo-sticks...illustratively of course, not literally as that would just be plain silly! The lovely publishers that she works with let her do all sorts of fun things with words, pictures and a bit of gold paint - which is why she loves her job as an illustrator so much.

Thanks for a great week, Holly! If you would like to see more of Holly's work you can visit her fantastic website, get to see what she's working on at her blog and follow her creative ramblings on her twitter. And so the book leaves Henley-on-Thames and makes its way back to London once again to visit the great animator & illustrator, Steven Lenton. To find out how his week went check back here in a week's time!

Week 16 - Ben Mantle

Week 16 finds us in Brighton at the home of illustrator extraordinaire, Ben Mantle.

Ben is an illustrator/animator who works mostly on Children's books.

He was born in Leamington Spa in 1980, and developed a very early interest in things artistic, designing programme covers for school productions and even coming first in his local library colouring-in competition. From there he went on to study animation at Surrey Institute of Art & Design, graduating in 2003.. He then gained valuable experience working on Tim Burton's “Corpse Bride” before moving to Brighton to work as 'Head of Animation' in a media company, focusing on Character and Background design.

He was also part of the Animation team creating the BAFTA winning 'Big and Small' CBeebies website. Since 2008, Ben has been working as a Children's Book Illustrator from his shared studio in Brighton and he also produces screen prints and digital artwork to exhibit.

If you'd like to know what Ben gets up to on a daily basis you can follow him on twitter and have a gander at his portfolio right here. And so we leave Brighton and head on to Henley on Thames to join the guinea pig drawing supreme, Holly Surplice. Until then...

Week 15 - Mike Byrne

We've reached the half way point! It should be fair sailing from here so get comfy and meet our 15th illustrator Mike Byrne (also known as the cheeky Mikey B Doodles).

Mike grew up on the Wirral, near Liverpool, but moved to London to work as an Illustrator by day and a crayon wielding crime fighter by night.

Mike works across greetings cards, wrapping paper and an array of children's literature - his most recent being Jack's Mega Machines: The Dinosaur Digger and The Purim Superhero.

He lives in the countryside with his wife and two cats, where he spends his day doodling and making children's books fuelled only by P.G Tips & Hob Nobs.

You can follow Mike on twitter and keep up to date with his latest work on his Facebook page. The book is now venturing on to Brighton to join the most excellent Ben Mantle. See you in a week!

Week 14 - Catherine McDaid

So the book survived its second trip over the Irish sea and made its way to Buckinghamshire to be painted and drawn in by Catherine McDaid.

Catherine graduated in 2006 with a degree in illustration. She is the other half of a collective duo called Monster Riot, in which she produces plush toys and helps art direct. 

Catherine lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and two house rabbits. She is currently working on her first picture book which will probably include a couple of mischievous bunnies. 

To see more of Catherine's work visit her blog and to get up to the minute updates you can also follow her on twitter. Next the book travels to Surrey to be entertained by the epic Mike Byrne.

Week 13 - Clive McFarland

The paper cutting maestro, Clive McFarland found himself with the book this week. The book travelled overseas for the first time to Omagh to join Clive and his paper cutting skills.

Clive grew up in Northern Ireland but took a boat to Liverpool to study animation and illustration at Liverpool School of Art and Design. Surviving endless paper cuts, he passed his degree with flying colours and (after a few other less exciting jobs) became an illustrator.  He is now working on his first picture book which is due out later this year. And yes, he still gets paper cuts...

For more of Clive's work visit his website here and follow the chap on twitter. Now from one 'Mc' to another, as the book wields itself back across the Irish sea to Buckinghamshire to join Catherine McDaid. Until next week...

Week 12 - Kate Hindley

Week 12 already! We're quickly approaching the half way point for the bear's journey. This week we had the terrifically talented Kate Hindley take care of the book and fill it with her beautiful illustrations.

Kate is a freelance illustrator living and working in Birmingham (not far from the chocolate factory). She studied Illustration at Falmouth College of Art, and went on to work for two years as a children’s print designer at a studio in Northampton, whilst working freelance on children’s books and greetings cards.

Her first children’s book “The Great Snortle Hunt”, written by Claire Freedman was published this year. She is currently working on more picture book titles with Simon and Schuster and Walker.

To see more of Kate's work take a visit to her website and follow her on twitter. And so we wave goodbye to Kate and embark across the Irish Sea for the first time to visit Clive McFarland in Northern Ireland. Until next week...