Jackie Morris author page

Jackie Morris biography

Jackie Morris, born in 1961 in Birmingham, England, is a British author and illustrator known for her contributions to children’s literature. At the age of four, her family moved to Evesham, Worcestershire. She attended Prince Henry’s High School and later studied at Hereford College of Arts, followed by the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham.

After completing her studies, Morris began her career illustrating for publications such as Radio Times, New Statesman, New Society, and Country Living. Her entry into children’s books started with illustrating Jo’s Storm by Caroline Pitcher. She has since authored and illustrated numerous titles, including The Seal Children, Tell Me a Dragon, The Snow Leopard, and Something About a Bear.

In collaboration with writer Robert Macfarlane, Morris illustrated The Lost Words, a book combining acrostic poems with nature-inspired artwork. This work was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2016 and won the award in 2019. It also received the Books Are My Bag Readers’ Award and was voted the most beautiful book of 2016 by UK booksellers. A companion volume, The Lost Spells, was published in 2020.

Morris has illustrated works by various authors, including Ted Hughes and Robin Hobb. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries across the UK, such as the National Library of Wales and Compton Verney. Her books have been translated into multiple languages.