Kate Veale

Kate Veale

Kate Veale writes and illustrates children's books. She is the creator of the Mr Moon series aired on the Disney Playhouse channel from 2010.

Background

Kate was born in Derbyshire and was consumed by drawing, painting and writing from a very early age. She was encouraged to make her own Christmas cards by artistic parents. Her love of the countryside and the natural world developed from long holidays staying with family friends in Somerset. The whole family would be invited to stay in an old stone farmhouse surrounded by countryside where Kate and her brothers would spend most of their time. The whole family also had a great interest in wildlife.

Education and Early Work Life

At school Kate’s artistic ability was noticeable and she sold her first paintings during her school days.

She was also quite academic and passed her Oxford entrance exam before sitting her A levels. She went to Durham University but was unhappy studying History. She left Durham after one year so that she could follow her desire to paint and write.

Kate quickly progressed to working in the commercial field. Her first commercial studio experience was with Jay Advertising – a small studio in Leicestershire where she started as a freelance artist. Although Kate appreciated the experience she found the very commercial aspect of the work difficult to come to terms with because it restrained her imagination. However it was invaluable experience and taught Kate important technical and commercial aspects.

Kate also did some work for Sharpes Classic and some nature studies for Royle Publications at around this time. She was lucky to be spotted by Rowland Hilder who was on the board at Royle. He had been impressed by an illustration of a rabbit with young which Kate had submitted and which was subsequently published. He gave her advice and encouragement which stayed with her through thick and thin ‘whatever you do, never stop drawing and painting’. He also gave her tutorial advice which helped Kate enormously

Bibliography

Mr Moon

• 2000 Mr Moon Opens the Secret Door
• 2000 Mr Moon and the Ugly Alien
• 2000 Mr Moon and the Blackcurrant Rain Cloud
• 2000 Mr Moon Visits Earth

Oliver Otter and Friends

• 1996 Did You Swim Today, Oliver Otter?
• 1996 Follow the Trail, Digsby the Mole
• 1996 Will Squirrel's Big Fizz
• 1996 Drew the Shrew and the Star
• 1996 Watch Out For Father Christmas

Country Companions

• 1993 A Day in the Life of Sam Rabbit
• 1993 A Day in the Life of Edward Hedgehog
• 1993 A Day in the Life of Tom Mouse
• 1993 A Day in the Life of Badger
• 1992 What Happened to Edward Hedgehog One Winter