I’m Kate Marie Lewis, a writer and illustrator based in Adelaide, South Australia.
I create children’s books that trust young readers to look closely, think for themselves, and notice the small, surprising details of the world around them.
Illustration
My illustration style is detailed and textural. My dual background in science and fine arts means I’m equally comfortable producing scientifically accurate illustrations and quirky characters full of emotion, interaction and movement. My preferred materials include acrylic paint, watercolour, coloured pencils, and digital painting.
Alongside my author-illustration practice, I’m an award-winning wildlife artist, bringing an eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the natural world to my work. My artwork has been recognised in competitions including the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize, the Solar Art Prize, and the Buzz Words Illustration prize. Feel free to check out my illustration portfolio.
Writing
The stories I write are often a playful combination of non-fiction elements and character-driven fiction. I’m drawn to animals, ecosystems, and everyday moments where behaviour, human or animal, reveals something unexpected, funny, or quietly profound. Rather than spelling out messages, my stories invite children to observe, question, and form their own ideas, using humour, curiosity, and precise detail to draw them in. Whether I’m writing about wildlife, children navigating big feelings, or the way the world looks from a child’s point of view, I aim to create books that feel lively, intelligent, and visually distinctive.
I have been awarded an Emerging SA Literary Fellowship through Writers SA and the State Library of South Australia, and my writing has been recognised in the CYA Writing Competition and the JWFK Pitch It Competition. I’ve completed the Australian Writers’ Centre Writing Picture Books courses and Margrete Lamond’s Pitch Perfect Portfolio illustration course, and I’m a member of ASA, SCBWI, CBCASA, and the Cardboard Box Illustrators.
