Catherine Lindow

I’m a freelance illustrator and experienced workshop leader. I also work part time in a library. My favourite sessions are highly interactive - I love hearing the voices of participants and building a narrative together.

I’m very comfortable in an early years setting where we can add movement and singing to drawing activities. I’ll happily bring new materials into play for older age groups - I have printed with cheese and inspired character design with smells-in-a-jar. Drawing’s the main event though - give me a group of any age with pens and paper and we can get started straight away.

I strongly believe in using drawing as a communication tool. Sometimes I’m not even sure if there is a line between what words and pictures can bring to the feast. Both support literacy and facilitate storytelling. Both make great tools for discussion. Both can ask and answer questions.

My own work is very character-led, so topics around family, community, self-expression and self-care, memoir and our place in the world are a good match. I am very interested in communities and their places and have loved working on murals and narrative mapmaking projects. I also love drawing outdoors.