Debi Gliori
Illustrator: mentor in 2025
Debi Gliori is a Glasgow-born, Edinburgh-based, best-selling writer and illustrator. Since first publishing Mr Bear in 1991, Debi has created over 80 books and sold more than half a million copies in the UK alone. She has won the Red House Children’s Book Award, the Scottish Arts Council Award, The Saltire Award and has been three times nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Debi graduated from Edinburgh college of Art in 1984 and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Strathclyde.
“I love the mentoring process, invariably learning so much from my mentees over the months of our collaboration. With Amy, the mentorship has been effortless. It has been such a pleasure to work with a debut illustrator who is utterly professional in her approach, meticulous in her process, and arrived on Day 1 brimful of ideas and enthusiasm for the tasks ahead. From the first meeting where we pored over her sketchbooks to the last when we made infinitesimal changes to the rough layouts for her (ready to submit) picture book, I was delighted to work alongside her and be as supportive as she needed. Spoiler alert: she didn’t need very much in the way of support. I shall miss her and look forward to seeing what she does next. Amy is more than ready to emulate her fabulous bird characters and take flight into the publishing world.”
