ABOUT
Hello and welcome!
I am a creative illustrator storyteller working primarily in the children’s book industry, providing high quality original artworks done both traditionally and digitally. Armed with a library of knowledge housing the old masters through to today’s creative geniuses.
INSPIRATION
I love an illustration that tells a story, and one of my favourite eras the Golden Age of Illustration embellishes this for me. There are many illustrators whom have inspired me over the years from the likes of Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac to Norman Rockwell and Ronald Embleton not forgetting Scott Gustafson, Peter de Seve and Carter Goodrich. Born and bred in the beautiful countryside of Lancashire in the North West of England, I adore this part of the country which influenced the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and which also, never ceases to give me inspiration.
STORY TELLING
From the very first moment I picked up my first crayon and scribbled on the bedroom wall I’ve been hooked! The magical world as a creative illustrator is both exhilarating and wondrous. It’s an adventure that takes me to the far off lands of my imagination – as a Hero saving a Princess; or to Blackbeard the Pirate sailing the seven seas; and to George slaying the Dragon. With more than twenty years of deadlines, my passion for creating new characters and the world in which they live is still as fresh as the day I entered this realm.
“Leo never disappoints… he’s undoubtedly extremely talented, his drawings are simply beautiful, but more than that he’s everything I want in an illustrator. Yes, he delivers on time and yes, I never feel overcharged, but ultimately he’s always a pleasure to work with. Fundamentally Leo’s a great communicator – he’ll listen intently but he’ll ask for clarification if he doesn’t understand my sometimes contradictory briefs. He engages with every project and is not afraid to make suggestions but always making sure I get exactly what I want. Damn it, he makes me laugh too.”
“Leo is an absolute dream to work with, whatever you give him or expect of him he always gives you more, never fails to deliver or communicate with you. A professional, diligent and extremely talented high caliber artist and illustrator.”
“Leo is an amazing artist and it has been a great pleasure and enormous fun collaborating with him on my “Cat in A Box” children’s story book. He managed to capture the look and unique characters of my cats to perfection.”
“Leo’s artistry breathes life into is characters, his imagination has no boundaries. To top it all he always approaches every contract professionally and he is a pleasure to work with.”
“Leo has illustrated several of the children’s books I have written, covering subjects from mythical beasts and fairies to knights, pirates and Vikings. His pencil illustrations and colour artworks beautifully capture scenes and characters, from delicate fairies or magical horses to terrifying sea monsters and larger-than-life villains. Leo has a wonderful eye for detail and is skilled at noticing small but important elements in the text and imaginatively bringing them to life on the page. He is also incredibly pleasant to work with, and always ready to listen and adjust. “One of the best,” as my editor said!”
