Blog

We’re delighted to announce another FREE Picture Hooks event which will be held at the Macrobert Art Centre in Stirling, as part of our Emerging Illustrators 2026 tour. Award-winning illustrator of Coorie Doon Jill Calder, acclaimed children’s author Vivian French, and Picture Hooks 2025 mentee and illustrator Esther Kent will delve into how picture books […]

Renowned children’s author Abie Longstaff has written 60 (!) books, so it’s safe to say she knows her stuff. That’s why, when we spotted her article on Substack, we knew we had to share it with you all. Read on for some golden advice from Abie. This article was first published on Substack. All credit belongs to Abie Longstaff. […]

Out now! Our latest interview with author, Carnegies Award Executive, children’s book and reading development consultant, and one of the UK’s top librarians, Jake Hope. Join Picture Hooks Co-Chair Vivian French as she talks all things picture books and the importance of libraries, plus get an inside look at the judging process for The Carnegies, […]

We ran a free exhibition at the beautiful Edinburgh Central Library, all about the importance of picture books, featuring brilliantly talented, award winning artists: Catherine Rayner, Chris Haughton, Debi Gliori, Ken Wilson-Max, Lydia Monks, Nick Sharratt, Sara Ogilvie, and Vivian French.  Picture Hooks: Hooked from the Start explored how books read in childhood influence and inspire us […]

The dates have been announced, flights are being booked, and tickets are on sale – the world’s biggest Children’s Book Fair awaits!  If this next Bologna Book Fair is your first ever and you don’t know what to expect, or you’re feeling frazzled at just the thought of it, fear not! We at Picture Hooks […]

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES We all need a helping hand sometimes, don’t we? As with our other competitions, we’d like to see two illustrations in a swipe through format. our competitions are all about encouraging you to think about storytelling, the page turn, showing character, and expressing feelings. We’ll be looking […]

In our first interview, Vivian chats to former teacher, university lecturer, and founder of Just Imagine, Nikki Gamble. Just Imagine works extensively with schools in the UK and internationally to develop outstanding reading and writing, where stories and literature are placed firmly at the heart of learning. Let’s see what they have to say about […]

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES Who’s meeting who? Surprise us on the swipe-through! We’d like you to create two illustrations in a swipe-through format to show us two or more characters meeting for the first time. Our competitions are all about encouraging illustrators to think about storytelling, the page turn, showing character, […]

Good news! We received such great feedback from you on last month’s webinar with our dynamic duo, Vivian French and David Melling, that we’ve decided to run three more webinars all about the importance of play. In each of these webinars, Vivian and David will demonstrate different ways to add playful practices into your drawing/painting […]

Goblins & Bloblins – Play with a Purpose  LIVE from 7pm GMT on Monday 12th May Join our very own Vivian French and dynamic David Melling in the next Picture Hooks Explores free webinar as they show us how play is an essential component of top-notch illustration.   Play can be a launch pad that propels […]