Hi, I’m Emily Bakes, an Illustrator based in East London. I grew up in Hackney and now live in Walthamstow with my husband and two daughters.

I graduated with a degree in Illustration from the University of Westminster in 2009 but ended up going in a different direction and becoming a gardener. This has been a very rewarding job, caring for people’s gardens, spending lots of time outdoors and away from a desk. However, I’ve always continued to draw and paint in my spare time, and now feel ready to pursue illustration more seriously.

I’ve been inspired by the children’s books I read to my daughters, and found myself creating work that fits into that world. I love humorous work like the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, and admire classic illustrators that had a strong sense of design, such as Mary Blair and Leo Lionni.

I would love to illustrate for picture books, chapter books or middle grade, both fiction and non-fiction. I enjoy sketching characters based on people I see around me, capturing details of their style and expressions to tell a story. I also enjoy drawing animals in surreal situations, and of course love drawing plants and flowers.

If you have any enquiries or would like to collaborate on a project, please get in touch at emilybakesart@proton.me