Natalie Russell

Natalie Russell is a Senior Lecturer of Illustration and an author / illustrator of children's picture books. Her work has been published within the United Kingdom, USA, Japan, China Korea, Thailand, Germany and Turkey.

Since the publication of her first book Hamish the Highland Cow (Bloomsbury) in 2003, Natalie has published eight solo titles with leading international publishing houses, including Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing and Macmillan Children’s Books, and she has collaborated with New York Times Best Selling author Kobi Yamada on Because of You, Mom, Because of You, Dad and Because I had a Teacher published by Compendium Inc. USA.

Natalie’s research focuses on the process of composing children’s narratives, with particular interest in the writing process and the influential factors that shape each story. She believes it is important to get to know characters intimately through crafting the narrative over time. Actions, dialogue, settings, plots and themes are all explored in depth to assist in the decision-making process and to lead Natalie’s uncertain journey to a more meaningful and sure-worded end.

In 2004, Natalie was shortlisted for the Scottish Booktrust Early Years Award (Best New Illustrator) with Hamish the Highland Cow, and in 2009 she was nominated for The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal with Moon Rabbit (Macmillan). Lost for Words (Macmillan) became runner up in the Scottish Children’s Book Awards in 2015 and was included in the Bookbug Family Pack that was gifted to every Primary 1 child in Scotland. 

Natalie was mentor on the successful Picturehooks Mentoring Scheme (2012/13 & 2014/15) for emerging Scottish Illustrators and regularly attends literary events at learning institutions, libraries and book festivals to promote books, literacy skills and related image-making processes.