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Trolls, owls, surfers and giants too – the picture book characters created by Bristol-based artist Tom Bonson are brimming with life, colour and a bit of light-hearted humour. As well as writing and illustrating children’s stories, Tom has seen his work brought to life in animated apps, and his unique style keeps audiences coming back for more.
With parents who were also illustrators, Tom comes from a creative family that he credits for much of his inspiration. “My mum religiously playing Simon and Garfunkel when driving to the zoo, my dad who would regale me with bite-size versions of Dickens novels,” he explains.
They also taught him how to see detail and the bigger picture, something that’s always manifest in his children’s book illustrations. After two years of Fine Art at Norfolk College, Tom completed an Illustration degree at Lincoln University.
