James Mayhew
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James Mayhew studied illustration at Maidstone College of Art, followed by further studies in set design. His Katie series, introducing art to children for over 25 years, still sells all over the world.
James is also the creator of the Ella Bella Ballerina series, Miranda the Explorer and Boy. He has collaborated with a wide range of great writers and artists: Philippa Pearce, Elisabeth Beresford, Beverley Birch, Jackie Morris, Clara Vulliamy and Joyce Dunbar. In 1994 he received the New York Times book illustration award for Jenny Koralek’s The Boy and the Cloth of Dreams. |
Alongside his work in publishing, James works as an animateur, presenting orchestral concerts for children, combining live classical music, storytelling and art. From Peter and the Wolf to Scheherazade, his unique way of bringing music to life in paint has received outstanding reviews. His current work in progress is a series of illustrated retellings of the traditional folkloric tales that have inspired some of the world's greatest pieces of classical music. There's a short clip of James bringing classical music to life as an animateur, below.
James has written for BBC television (Driver Dan’s Story Train; Melody) and in 2011 appeared on the BBC’s Authors Live series for Scottish Book Trust. In 2013 a stage adaptation of Katie and the Mona Lisa was successfully premiered at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon.
In 2013 he was invited to be the Guest Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival where he also designed an historic and much acclaimed production of Britten’s children’s opera Noye’s Fludde. In 2014 he was Illustrator in Residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
James teaches MA students in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and at the Golden Egg Academy. You can follow James on Twitter - @mayhewjames - and find out more on his own website.
Selected praise for James Mayhew:
"Any child who is lucky enough to be given this book is in for a treat… a wonderful idea, brilliantly produced."
Katie and the Impressionists Adele Geras, Carousel Magazine
"A dizzying adventure… the enchanting idea is matched by the quality of the book’s illustrations. With its deft and witty pastiches, it is a charming liberating fantasy…"
Katie and the Mona Lisa Joanna Carey Times Educational Supplement
"An unsung hero of picture books… Mayhew’s lively pastiches are a lovely way to start a lifetime of enjoying art: if you want to know what made Mona Lisa smile, ask Katie."
Amanda Craig The Times
"Not only does he write fluently with rhythm, pace and pithy humour – rare talent for an artist – he paints with intricate line and shadow and garish abandon: golden cupolas and icons, flowing turquoise and russet sarafans, sea-green nymphs, tall dark firs, ruddy snub-nosed peasants and hirsute, hook-nosed haradans… he succeeds in preserving the authentic folklore tradition."
Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia James Riordan Times Eductional Supplement
In 2013 he was invited to be the Guest Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival where he also designed an historic and much acclaimed production of Britten’s children’s opera Noye’s Fludde. In 2014 he was Illustrator in Residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
James teaches MA students in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and at the Golden Egg Academy. You can follow James on Twitter - @mayhewjames - and find out more on his own website.
Selected praise for James Mayhew:
"Any child who is lucky enough to be given this book is in for a treat… a wonderful idea, brilliantly produced."
Katie and the Impressionists Adele Geras, Carousel Magazine
"A dizzying adventure… the enchanting idea is matched by the quality of the book’s illustrations. With its deft and witty pastiches, it is a charming liberating fantasy…"
Katie and the Mona Lisa Joanna Carey Times Educational Supplement
"An unsung hero of picture books… Mayhew’s lively pastiches are a lovely way to start a lifetime of enjoying art: if you want to know what made Mona Lisa smile, ask Katie."
Amanda Craig The Times
"Not only does he write fluently with rhythm, pace and pithy humour – rare talent for an artist – he paints with intricate line and shadow and garish abandon: golden cupolas and icons, flowing turquoise and russet sarafans, sea-green nymphs, tall dark firs, ruddy snub-nosed peasants and hirsute, hook-nosed haradans… he succeeds in preserving the authentic folklore tradition."
Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia James Riordan Times Eductional Supplement