Hi there. My name is Matt Abbott and I am a children's book illustrator.

I've been drawing all my life ever since I started a cartoon club in school. My friends and I would get together in the library at lunch (cool, I know!) and draw our favourite cartoon characters.

I grew up on the Beano and Dandy comics, SuperTed and Danger Mouse.

Flash forward 30 years, a degree in politics and a career as a journalist took me away from my love of drawing and characters. Life has a way of doing that, right? You forget about the magic and stop believing in your ability to do it.

But having kids brings it all back. For me at least. Making up stories, performing for them, reading to them, making them laugh - the magic came rushing back and, thankfully, so did the skill.

Most of my art is inspired by them - to make them smile and laugh; to empower them. It also inspires them to draw, which in turn inspires me right back.

I use the procreate app on an iPad Pro and use an Apple Pencil 2. I love experimenting with different styles and brushes. ​

I live by the sea in Barry, South Wales, with my wife who is a fantastic copywriter, my two daughters, two cats and a dog.