See under the Sea Drawing

Colin King, the son of a blacksmith was born and grew up in Great Tey, Essex. He began his art training at Colchester School of Art, where he studied drawing and printmaking. In 1968 he gained a Master of Art degree in illustration at the Royal College of Art, London. He then worked as a freelance illustrator for such clients as Shell, The Sunday Times Magazine and the BBC as well as various leading advertising agencies and publishers.For many years he taught part-time at Harrow, Cambridge and Wimbledon Schools of Art, as well as exhibiting his prints and watercolours.He began drawing pictures for children's books in 1976 and has illustrated over sixty titles to date. He has been illustrating books for Usborne Publishing for over thirty years.Best selling titles include The Children's Encyclopedia, 'See Inside' flap books and books about Spies and Detectives.His books have been translated into many languages worldwide.The challenge for me, with any illustration commission, is to provide visuals that not only compliment the text, but also add something to the information, or narrative of the story.I have illustrated a few books written by my wife Valerie-Anne King. 'The Return of Old Smokey' was developed from an idea inspired by a visit to Barry Island scrap yard at a time when it was full of abandoned steam locomotives. The story follows the adventures of one old train who magically escapes from the scrap yard and finds its way back to its old station. "Horatio Whale' and 'In Comes the Tide' are both rhyming stories for 2-6 year olds inspired by the North Norfolk coast.I try to put as much incidental detail as I can into my illustrations. From feedback I have had over the years from parents, teachers and children themselves, I know that even very young children love that aspect of my work.I work in a traditional way using line and colour wash as the main medium. Some commissions are undertaken using a combination of this method and digital manipulation. Both approaches suit my graphic style. I am represented by Graham-Cameron Illustration.