Eirinn McGuiness author page

Eirinn McGuinness biography

Eirinn McGuinness is a UK illustrator and writer who specialises in children’s books. Her work blends text and image to tell stories for young readers, with interests that include human behaviour and family relationships. She studied English literature (BA) at the University of Exeter before completing an MA in Illustration at Arts University Bournemouth, graduating in 2022.

McGuinness illustrated Donna Ashworth’s poetry collection Words Can Fly, a title for 7–11s published in hardback by Templar Books in June 2025 (ISBN 9781785307171). An audiobook edition narrated by the author followed later in 2025.

Her practice includes editorial and narrative illustration alongside book projects. Exhibitions featuring her work include the Cheltenham Illustration Awards: Digging Deep Exhibition Tour (2023), the In Mind exhibition at BUMF Gallery, Bournemouth (2022), and the Arts University Bournemouth Graduate Show (2022). She received recognition in the Cheltenham Illustration Awards in 2022 and is represented by Claire Cartey at the agency Holroyde Cartey.

McGuinness continues to develop picture-led narratives for publishers and education settings following her MA in Illustration completed in 2022.