Interview with Childrens Book Illustrator: Val Lawton

Val Lawton was trained as a librarian at the University of British Columbia, but in recent years has taken up illustrating for both children and adult audiences. She granted me this interview and a glimpse into her process. It was a delightful opportunity. She also has a beautiful blog : Val Lawton Illustration

Q. Your latest book, “Where Does Your Cat Nap?” has just come out. Can you tell us a little about it?

A. “Where Does Your Cat Nap?” is a story told-in-rhyme about all sorts of cats, and the kinds of places they might think to take a nap! I guess you could call it a sequel to “Where Does Your Dog Sleep?”

It’s written for the 0 – 5 year old set, but I’ve met some adults who are liking it, too!

Q. The author, Jean Freeman, is an author AND an actress, I hear. What’s she been in?


A. Jean is a renaissance woman, and does all sorts of interesting things. If you watch CTV’s “Corner Gas,” you’ll recognize her as a Fitzi’s Grandma. Did you see the episode about “the great big dirty hoe”?!
She’s also a delightful storyteller. You can hear her read our first children’s book, Where Does Your Dog Sleep?”, on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgF-LFTIoJM

Q. And what about you, Val Lawton? Have you been illustrating for a long time?


A. I started illustrating seriously about 8 or 9 years ago, when I was home with little children. We spent hours poring over library books, and I kept thinking, “hey, I could do this…” So, I put my portfolio together (when the kids were napping!), and started to promote myself as an illustrator. Since then, I’ve illustrated twelve books for both kids and adults.

Q. Are there any illustrators that have particularly influenced you and your illustration style?

A. Oh, yes -- I LOVE the great British illustrators like Edward Ardizzone, Randolph Caldecott, Quentin Blake, Charlotte Voake, Helen Oxenbury, Ernest Sheppard, Simon James, Sally Gardner, etc. etc. I’m also a huge fan of Jean-Jacques Sempe, the French cartoonist/illustrator. There are so many great illustrators whose work I admire.

Q. Do you do anything else besides illustrating?

A. I do lots of classroom visits, where I talk to kids about the illustration process, and then I get them to do some illustrating of their own.I’ve also done a few artist-in-residencies, my most recent at Calgary’s Telus World of Science, in the Creative Kids’ Museum. I spent a month there this fall, demonstrating old-fashioned optical devices like thaumatropes, a zoetrope and flip-books.


I’ve got more on my blog if you’re interested in reading about it… Val Lawton Illustrator


Q. What about adults?? Do you spend any time working with grown-ups?

A. Ah, yes, of course—the grown-ups!… I consult with writers who are interested in developing picture books on their own. I provide both copy-editing and illustration services to people pursuing self-publishing over traditional publishing.

Q. And what are you working on right now?

A. I’m currently working with a Saskatchewan author who’s written a 24-page picture book about a Giant who loves to eat. But he’s a gourmet, not a gourmand…! Very funny stuff! It will be out in 2010.

And there you have it! Didn't I tell you she is a delight ?