About Me
When I'm asked by small children 'How old were you when you were a child?'
I usually have a good think, scratch my head, and say, 'Ooh, probably about your age, I guess,' Which is quite true.
I usually have a good think, scratch my head, and say, 'Ooh, probably about your age, I guess,' Which is quite true.
Another truism is that I come from quite an extra-ordinary family.
1. For his National Service my Dad was trained to write and speak Russian fluently. He was a spy, (a sheppards' spy!)
He spied on the Russians. Every now and then Dad would disappear for a week at a time, apparently on secret spy missions.
2. When he was just 18 my Grandad, Cyril, liberated the town Haspres in northern France,
in the first world war, singlehanded, (that might be a slight exaggeration,
he probably had quite a lot of help.)
3. Grandad had a glass eye, (he lost an eye in the war,) He kept several spare eyes in a black velvet box.
Sometimes I'd find the odd eye rolling around under the sideboard. And I'd have to say to him, 'Grandad, you forgot to put your eye in,'
Sometimes I'd find the odd eye rolling around under the sideboard. And I'd have to say to him, 'Grandad, you forgot to put your eye in,'
4. Grandad's wife, Teresa, was German, her family made cuckoo clocks.
Grandma's German surname sounded like Bee-Ha.
Apparently Bee-Ha is German slang for bra.
So her Mum and Dad were Mr and Mrs Bra. Which I find highly amusing.
5. My Aunt, meanwhile, sees ghosts.
Quite often she'll see the ghost of my Grandma
sitting in an armchair in her front room.
And me? I once worked on an organic farm, where I regularly spent hours chasing escapee piglets. And as if that
wasn't enough, one day, when I was planting a very long hedge in the driving rain, was the day I decided to become an
illustrator. Since planting that Beech hedge, I have illustrated lots and lots of books (Inc., two Horrible Histories,
both of which are best sellers, apparently,) for loads of publishers, worldwide, from here to Timbuktu, (well, almost. Actually my
brother rode across Africa on a motorbike to Timbuktu - and that is the honest truth.)
I am also an award-winning and shortlisted illustrator...Ta-Daaa!
Clients include:York Minster Cathedral
DreamWorks Walker Books Macmillan Children's Books Kingfisher Books Orchard Books Scholastic OUP Random House Egmont Hachette Children's Books Transworld Nelson Thornes Usbourne, Hodder The Radio Times A&C Black Hawthorn Press Franklin Watts Pearson City of London Corporation Gloucestershire County Council Fylde Council |
Illustration Workshops:
The Ledbury Poetry Festival The Bath Children's Literature Festival The Wye Valley River Festival The Art of Libraries |
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'Kate Sheppard's colourful and quirky illustrations are a sheer delight.' Damian Kelleher, Child Education Plus.
Sketch book - age 9'ish
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