PATRICIA MACCARTHY

ABOUT 2015
 
Patricia MacCarthy graduated from Brighton Art College in 1983, with a BA Honours Degree in Graphic Design.

Since then she has worked as an Illustrator (now author too) for Children’s Books, Greeting Cards, Licensed Products, Prints, Posters, and Private Commissions. She exhibits and sells original artworks through the Langham Gallery, London, Bloomsbury.

“As my illustration work evolves, it is the fascination of nature in all its magical beauty and infinite detail that has become my greatest inspiration. The more you look, the more you will see, and lay witness to nature’s fairy tale unfurling!”

Patricia lives and works by the sea and rolling Sussex downland near Brighton, with her husband, the internationally renowned Fantasy Artist, John Avon, and her two inspirational sons, Laurie and James.

Over the years she has enjoyed working with Children’s Book Publishers such as Random House, Frances Lincoln, Templar Books, Macmillan, Hamish Hamilton, J.M Dent/Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Little Tiger Press, Hinkler, and Oxford University Press.
Her recent picture book ‘Moon Forest’, published by Frances Lincoln, was nominated for The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for 2014.

She has collaborated extensively with the highly acclaimed New Zealand author, the late Margaret Mahy, and was awarded the New York Times ‘Best Illustrated Book of the Year’ for ‘17 Kings and 42 Elephants’.

Along side her book illustration, Patricia has a progressive and transitional career spanning back to her college days, designing greeting cards and licensed products. Gordon Fraser marked the beginning of this journey, then on and up with publishers such Aries Design, Gallery Five, Holy Mackerel, Athena, Clare Maddicott Cards, Paper Rose, The Paper House Group, Flame Tree Publications, Avocado, Wild Card, The Art File, Web Ivory, Ling Design, Gibson Greetings, Card Connection, Robot Design, Blossoms and Bows, International Greetings UK and, most recently, Herbs and Honey and Phoenix Trading.

Posters of Patricia’s work have been produced by Athena International, King & McGaw, and The Poster Shop; Gift Merchandise and Kitchenware by Kitted Out English Gifts, Russ Berrie (UK) Ltd., Mclaggon Smith Mugs, and Pimpernel International Ltd.

Patricia has an evolving bank of concepts in development for New Picture Book Series’ and stand-alones, as well as for new and Progressive Greeting Card ranges, so please do not hesitate to get in touch with her via her Contact Page.