What You Need to Be Warm

Dave McKean is best known for his work on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series of graphic novels and for his CD covers for musicians from Tori Amos to Alice Cooper. He also illustrated Neil Gaiman’s picture books The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, The Wolves in the Walls, and Crazy Hair. He is a cult figure in the comic book world, and is also a photographer.

Petr Horácek was born on 30th June 1967 in Czechoslovakia. He grew up on the outskirts of Prague. From the age of 15-19 Petr studied at the High School of Art in Prague. The school specialised mainly in design. From age 19 Peter worked in a state design studio for two years. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Art in Prague from 1988. Petr graduated as a Master of Fine Art in 1994. As a student Petr met his English wife Claire and in1995 they moved to England. Petr started to write and illustrate books soon after his first child was born. The first books ‘Strawberries are Red’ and ‘What is Black and White?’ were published in 2001 and he received the Books For Children Newcomer Award in the same year. Since then Petr has written and illustrated many books for children. In the UK he is mainly published by Walker Books and his books are translated into many languages. Petr has won awards for his books in Britain, USA and Holland. He lives in Worcester, England.

Chris Riddell, the 2015-2017 UK Children’s Laureate, has won a number of major prizes, including the 2001 and 2004 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse won the Costa Children’s Book Award 2013. His previous work for Macmillan includes the Goth Girl books, The Emperor of Absurdia, and, with Paul Stewart, Muddle Earth and the Scavenger series.

Benji Davies is the author and illustrator of The Storm Whale and the illustrator of Big Friends by Linda Sarah and Goodnight Already! by Jory John. As a child, Benji was often found painting at the kitchen table . . . a habit he has continued into adulthood. He lives in London with his wife, Nina.

OLIVER JEFFERS makes art and tells stories. His books include How to Catch a Star, Lost and Found, which was the recipient of the prestigious Nestle Children’s Book Prize Gold Award in the U.K. and was later adapted into an award-winning animated film; and the New York Times bestsellers Stuck, This Moose Belongs to Me and Once Upon an Alphabet. He is also, of course, the illustrator of the #1 smash hits The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, both written by Drew Daywalt.His fine art is world-renowned and his dip-art exhibitions are a much sought-after event. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oliver now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.

Richard Jones has more than 20 years of experience in the creative arts with a PhD in graphic communication. In his spare time, Richard enjoys bobbing about in the sea, feeding the cat, and licorice. He lives in England.