I am Daniel Cole, a children’s book illustrator based in Hampshire. As a child with dyslexia, I always struggled with reading books, but I always enjoyed looking at how the pictures brought my imagination to life and told the story. This experience is what made me deeply passionate about illustrating children's picture books, bringing stories to life through a playful, textured, bold and colourful aesthetic.

I enjoy working with consistent textures, shapes, and line work specifically tailored for young audiences, while always maintaining a professional approach to my illustrations.

My work primarily focuses on the 3–5 age range. Within this group, I use colourful textures to give my characters a high level of visual detail, paired with minimal, bold shapes and colours in the background that help the characters stand out. I enjoy illustrating stories and translating them visually, as I find this crucial for children’s mental development and imagination.

I have illustrated three children's picture books during the MA Illustration course: Eric The Lion Tamer; Help, I Don't Want A Babysitter; and The Ugly Duckling, with my illustration style remaining consistent throughout these stories. I am committed to continuous personal development, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of my visual storytelling while building strong, collaborative relationships with authors and publishers.

My plan is to continue illustrating children's picture books and entering them into competitions. I also plan to show my portfolio to publishers to secure freelance work, and I may consider working with an agent to help me find opportunities. Additionally, I want to continue travelling to experience different cultures and gain inspiration for my illustrations. I would love to attend the Bologna Children's Book Fair and the Shanghai International Children's Book Fair.