Claire Alexander is an award-winning illustrator and author of children's books, including A Little Bit Different and The Think-Ups. She loved drawing from a very young age, and remembers being asked to draw rabbits for her schoolmates!

Born in Bath, Claire grew up in Kent. She first studied Fine Art at the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury.

But it was while she was studying children’s illustration at Putney School of Art that she produced her first dummy book - Small Florence. Its publication marked the start of her dream career as a children's author illustrator.

In 2007 Claire created her own picture book course, a guide to picture book creation for aspiring author illustrators.

She's been teaching it ever since - in local libraries, bookshops, and more recently at the House of Illustration. She regularly visits schools, and enjoys drawing for and with children.

Claire is author and illustrator of the popular Ploofers series for Quarto - A Little Bit Different, A Little Bit of Courage and A Little Bit of Respect.

Meanwhile, coming from Walker in 2022, The Think-Ups is a delightful new picture book. Claire uses innovative cut pages to bring this charming domestic story of two imaginative sisters to life.

Claire also illustrates books by other authors, including two books by Sean Taylor - who we also represent.

The Snow Bear, praised by the New York Times for its "free-spirited" art, which "makes the magic feel quite possible" and Humperdink Our Elephant Friend, a whimsical story about an elephant who tries to fit in at a children's playgroup.

Coming in 2022, Puddling by Emma Perry - a celebration of playing in the rain - evocatively illustrated by Claire.

Claire Alexander's represented by The Catchpole Agency.

For more on her books and picture book courses, see her website.