I’m thrilled to announce that I’m the 2026 Little Book Press Illustrator Mentee!

I have some very exciting news to share: I’ve been chosen as the 2026 Illustration Mentee for the Little Book Press Mentorship Program!

I’m incredibly honoured to be joining writer Kaneez Dean, who has been selected as this year’s Writing Mentee. Together, we’ll each receive a publishing contract with Little Book Press to create a picture book for publication in 2027.

This is a particularly special opportunity for me because Little Book Press is committed to supporting South Australian creators as they launch their careers in children’s publishing. The program is made possible through the generous support of the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation, which enables emerging writers and illustrators to develop their work with the guidance of experienced creators from the children’s book industry.

The selection process was competitive, with South Australian writers Emilie Tunstill, Stephanie Driver, Rebecca Watson and Shannon Snoad, and illustrators Anya Macleod, Rebecca Sheedy, Alicia Kroehn and Amy Jacinta Biar shortlisted for the 2026 program.

I was absolutely thrilled to hear that the judges had selected my work, particularly as they specifically noted my expressive character work and confident technique. It was wonderful to receive that recognition for something I have been working so hard to develop over the past few years.

The mentorship will give me the opportunity to work closely with one of the industry's celebrated children's book creators, with our mentors to be announced in the coming weeks. I’m really looking forward to learning, being challenged, developing my illustration practice and, ultimately, seeing a picture book I have illustrated become a real book.

And perhaps most exciting of all, this will be my first picture book publication.

I’m so grateful to Little Book Press and the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation for creating this opportunity for emerging South Australian creators. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone who has encouraged me, given me feedback, looked at endless illustrations, or simply cheered me on along the way.

There is a lot of work ahead, but I’m so excited to get started!