Jess Racklyeft

Jess Racklyeft creates a variety of illustrated things – picture books, paintings, prints, pins and cards. She works from her studio at the Abbotsford Convent, not far from a little farm and the river. Her art often combines collage – either on paper or digitally assembled, experimentation and lots of watercolour. Jess worked in publishing sales for almost a decade before making the leap to full-time illustration, and since then illustrated and written over 40 picture books and has won several illustration accolades including CBCA Picture Book of the Year for Iceberg (written by Claire Saxby) and an Eve Pownall Honour Award for Australia: Country of Colour. Her work can now be found in bookshops and libraries across Australia, and her days are happily spent in a messy studio or on school visits.