Hello!
I’m Tilly—a children’s illustrator and author based in the Staffordshire countryside.

I graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BA in Graphic Design and an MA in Illustration. Since then, I’ve worked as a design assistant at Ladybird Books, as a freelance illustrator, and as a part-time lecturer. I’ve also recently published my first two books, and I was thrilled to make the longlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2025.

I’m incredibly excited to keep exploring the world of illustration and am keen to work on a variety of projects, from publishing, branding and packaging to editorial.

I have a real soft spot for lovable rogues, and humour is always at the heart of my characters and stories. One of my favourite parts of making picture books is going back at the very end to hide secret details in the illustrations—just for children to discover and giggle over.

If you’d like to get in touch, please email me at: tillymatthews36@yahoo.com.

Whether you’d like to discuss a project, request sample illustrations for potential work, or talk about representation, I’d love to hear from you.