Jo Litchfield

Hello, I'm Jo.

I am a freelance illustrator based in Derbyshire in the UK, represented by Beehive Illustration.

I enjoy working on all kinds of projects but I'm probably best known for children's books. I've illustrated over a hundred fiction and non-fiction titles so far, some of which have been translated into over 30 languages and sold in the millions worldwide.

I studied Graphic Design at Derby University and after graduation joined Usborne Publishing as a junior designer in their London Office. After I was given the role, a managing designer let slip that it was the modelmaking in my portfolio that really caught their eye; I've been making models as a hobby since I was 8 years old and I had built puppets and a set for a 3rd year illustration project, I thought it would be my only chance to have them photographed in a studio before I had to get a 'real job'.

Usborne had a project they wanted to be illustrated using models, influenced by the popularity of stop motion clay animation at the time, and because of my experience with puppets and sets, I was given the job of designing it. We interviewed several professional modelmakers for the illustrations but in the end, I was given the tremendous opportunity to illustrate it as well. That book was Everyday Words, it was the Times children's book of the week soon after launch, it sold millions and was distributed all over the world.

I spent the next 10 years making models of almost everything you could think of, I built houses, towns and hillsides, I populated them with hundreds of people and animals, I even illustrated a model picture dictionary so I literally went from A to Z.

I returned to the Midlands as a freelancer, after Usborne I was lucky enough to write my first picture book with Egmont, 'Bit-Bot and the Blob', which was (sadly) my last big project with puppets. Budgets and demand had changed, so I went back to using traditional and digital drawing techniques to suit lots of different kinds of projects.

I'm so grateful that I've had the chance to work with so many talented authors over the years, I hope to continue to do so for many more. I love the process of design, character development and illustration, but I'd be lying if I said I don't miss making puppets. I still make models, but usually with groups of school children all having a go, making art, making a mess and having a lot of fun.