James Mayhew has been creating books for children for over 30 years. He loves experimenting with different techniques and finding just the right approach for each new project. He created the bestselling Katie and Ella Bella picture book series, and most recently wrote and illustrated Once Upon ATune: Stories from the Orchestra (Otter-Barry Books, 2021) which has been widely acclaimed internationally. James is also the illustrator of the Mrs Noah books by Jackie Morris, Ian Eagleton’s Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, and the Gaspard the Fox books, by Zeb Soanes. Alongside his work in publishing, James works with a variety of musicians and symphony orchestras, presenting concerts that incorporate music and art created live on stage, illustrating classics like William Tell, Peer Gynt and Scheherazade. He presents the BBC online series Drawn to Music, for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. James lives with his husband, Toto, and Diva the dog, in Suffolk – where the big skies and gentle light are perfect for artists.
