Sue Mason

As a child

I grew up in Crowborough, East Sussex, with my brother Richard and a pet hamster inappropriately named Herman (he was a she). We did a lot of blackberry picking and playing in the little wood behind the house. I was better at sitting under trees and looking up, than climbing them. Mum was the creative influence in the family and I was oddly obsessed with her art materials box. Actually, family holidays usually involved a group painting session. In view of a lake or a crumbly ruin, the pad 'n' pens would come out and we'd all have a bash. Dad's wonky attempts would give us a laugh. I bet I'd like those the most these days.

As an adult

Art was my favourite subject all the way through school, so I didn't question doing anything else. I worked as a traditional sign writer at weekends. We painted everything from pub signs and shop fascias to coaches and church clocks. I particularly liked gold leafing. I went to Newcastle for my degree - it was a great course that allowed a mix of graphics and illustration, and I really got into screen printing and photography. Following that, I moved to London and began a design career at Walker Books, where I got my head around computers. Here I was able to absorb many different styles of illustrating, writing and design. Eight years later, the pull to get back into drawing took hold and I branched into the freelance world. Currently I divide my time between designing children's books for various publishers and illustrating them. It's a good balance.

As an artist

I work in a variety of different ways depending on the type of book and the deadlines attached. The process normally begins with lots of drawing and re-drawing, often incorporates some photography along the way, and finishes up being tinkered with on the computer all coming together in Photoshop. The majority of books I've illustrated have been fiction titles so far, but recently I've done a couple of picture books (very enjoyable, looking forward to more of those). I work from a happy little studio in a building called The Chocolate Factory in North East London. It's close to my house and I share it with some extra special friends. Sometimes we break from work to have a little dance around and eat cakes.

Things you didn't know about Sue Mason

1. I cycle everywhere on a pink bike.
2. I have toes like tiny prawns.
3. I have a recurring dream in which I can elevate to tree height after eating a tin of pink custard powder.
4. My favourite animal is the elephant.
5. I like crumpets. And cheese. Together. Or on their own.
6. My favourite number is 8.
7. I'm an indecisive Libran.
8. Sometimes I let my hair get so tangly, it's like I've grown a beaver's tail at the back of my head.
9. I'm obsessed with having clean teeth.
10. I have the best friends in the world.