Pencil Case's Profile

Happy Christmas 2017

Rosie Eve Charlotte Cotterill Kate Sheehy Christina Bretschneider Henning Löhlein Happy Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year from everyone at Frances McKay... Continue reading

Posted Dec 19, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Hack and Whack

I love Norse mythology, Icelandic sagas, and am fascinated by all things Viking, so it’s been a joy for me to write my first picture... Continue reading

Posted Oct 12, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Splendid Silliness: Elys Dolan's Knighthood for Beginners

Daily Mail, Best Summer Books “Better known for her picture books, this first foray into young fiction by Elys Dolan is a laugh-out loud triumph.... Continue reading

Posted Jul 11, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Daisy Doodles

I am delighted to announce the publication of my second picture book, Daisy Doodles (OUP) which has been a truly collaborative project. Take one original... Continue reading

Posted Jun 6, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Dreamer: Saving Our Wild World

Bee Willey's Dreamer is going down very well in the USA. The following is a review from the highly regarded School Library Journal. "Once I... Continue reading

Posted Mar 15, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Elys Dolan's New Series for OUP

As Charlotte Eyre reports in The Bookseller: Oxford University Press Children's has bought three young fiction titles by author and illustrator Elys Dolan. The books... Continue reading

Posted Feb 7, 2017 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Merry Christmas 2016

Tom Morgan-Jones Sean Julian Neil Price Henning Löhlein Bee Willey Charlotte Cotterill Jay Birks Irene Dickson Alan Marks Nicola Pontin Merry Christmas and all good... Continue reading

Posted Dec 17, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Animating Lordship Lane

I was thrilled to be one of the artists chosen to take part in the Animating Lordship Lane art trail last month. I was commissioned... Continue reading

Posted Sep 22, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Ludwig the Space Dog, Launched!

My new book, "Ludwig the Space Dog", is out! After having illustrated 40 books so far, this is the first book I've written myself. It's... Continue reading

Posted Sep 9, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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The Doughnut of Doom: A Food Town Tour

My new book, The doughnut of Doom, is out now! But what is it about? Well, it's another ordinary day in Food Town and Nancy... Continue reading

Posted Aug 9, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Ludwig the space dog

Ludwig the Space Dog is Henning’s 3rd children’s book published in the UK, the 2nd book published by Templar, after „Fish food“ (by Andy Mansfield),... Continue reading

Posted Jul 26, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Literary Festival at St Mary's Lower School in Colchester

On July 8th St Mary’s School had their book festival, several local authors were there to talk to the children and in the afternoon four... Continue reading

Posted Jul 21, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Introducing Charlotte Cotterill

Frances McKay Illustration is delighted to announce that Charlotte Cotterill, a new graduate with an MA and a merit in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge... Continue reading

Posted Jun 22, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Blocks

At last! Finally… Drumroll please…. We present… ‘BLOCKS’ My picture book 'Blocks' has been published by Nosy Crow. Hurray! This story of toddler rivalry and... Continue reading

Posted Jun 15, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Wonderful Beast's Storm of Stories

Last Bank Holiday Monday, I ran a shadow puppet workshop, for Wonderful Beast’s 'Storm of Stories', based in Aldeburgh. Here are some of the pics... Continue reading

Posted May 19, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Shakespeare Day

To help celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death The Guardian published my 'How to make a dip pen' in XI acts. It appears in... Continue reading

Posted Apr 26, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Steven Seagull Action Hero

My new book, Steven Seagull Action Hero, is published today! It’s about Steven, a retired police detective, who’s called back into action for one last... Continue reading

Posted Apr 7, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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The Boy and the Globe

I'm delighted to say I have illustrated 'The Boy and the Globe', it's written by the dashing bard that is Tony Bradman and published by... Continue reading

Posted Mar 22, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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The Folio Society Book Illustration Competition 2016

I'm delighted to have won The Folio Society Book Illustration Competition and a commission to illustrate War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. The result was announced... Continue reading

Posted Feb 29, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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The Great Big Sleep

‘The Great Big Sleep’, like most of the stories I write, is semi-autobiographical and inspired by true-ish events. It is a tale of two friends,... Continue reading

Posted Jan 7, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Howard and the Three Billy Goats

Having just finished two books for Ladybird that I can’t quite sing about just yet, I’ve put my writing hat back on and dug out... Continue reading

Posted Jan 5, 2016 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Happy Christmas

The children from Irene’s debut picture book ‘Blocks’ having fun opening their Christmas presents. I wonder what this one could be! Published in the UK... Continue reading

Posted Dec 21, 2015 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Red Hair and Black Leather

This is a first for me; I’ve recently completed a sleeve and a label design for a vinyl record. Vinyl! For a child of the... Continue reading

Posted Nov 24, 2015 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Dreamer

Here is a preview of Dreamer, Bee Willey and poet Brain Moses' forthcoming book for Otter-Barry Books. Janetta Otter-Barry, formerly of Frances Lincoln, has a... Continue reading

Posted Nov 17, 2015 at Frances McKay Illustration

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Happy Halloween

Best witches from Nicola Pontin. Happy hunting from Elys Dolan. Monkey paws galore from Sean Julian And a fright to remember from Alan Marks. Happy... Continue reading

Posted Oct 30, 2015 at Frances McKay Illustration

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