Cambridge based Illustrator, Karen Crosbie, graduated from The Cambridge School of Art with a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration in 2015 and has been working in Children’s Illustration ever since. Having two young sons has been a great inspiration, providing many opportunities to observe their amusing and intricate individual personalities which is so integral to developing believable and lovable characters.

Karen has evolved her visual language over the years and uses a variety of mediums including pencil, oil crayons and digital, to achieve the complex narratives that are scattered throughout her work. Her use of bustling familiar scenes encourage viewers and readers to pore over the scenes and find new interactions every time. 

Karen’s work has been recognised and selected for the long list for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition 2024 and 2023, which is a showcase for the latest trends in illustration.

Karen’s most recent book is ‘Usain Bolt’ part of the Little People, Big Dreams, series written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara published by Frances Lincoln childrens books.

Available to buy now.

Clients incude :-

quarto kids, frances lincoln childrens books, papperlapapp, nnip, belvedere Artmagazine, prepped, mylittlefestival, mohawk, kubo, mmaa social, hortus ligneus, bobomama.

Exhibitions :-

Long-listed for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition 2024

Long-listed for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition 2023

Private Show at Mohawk Studios, Cambridge 2019

Cambridge School of Art MA Children's Book Illustration Degree Show 2015