Melissa Castrillon author page

Melissa Castrillón biography

Melissa Castrillón is a British-Colombian author and illustrator known for her work in children’s literature. She studied at the Cambridge School of Art, where she completed both a BA in Illustration and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration. Castrillón’s distinctive illustration style is characterised by intricate patterns and vibrant colour palettes.

She has illustrated a range of picture books and chapter books for various publishers. Her debut as both author and illustrator came with the picture book Rosie’s Magic Horse, written by Russell Hoban and published by Walker Books. Castrillón has also illustrated If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden, published by Simon & Schuster, and The Balcony, which she both wrote and illustrated, published by Simon & Schuster in 2019.

In addition to her picture books, Castrillón has illustrated covers and interiors for middle-grade novels, including The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, published by Puffin Books. Her work has been recognised for its visual storytelling and detailed compositions.

Melissa Castrillón’s picture book The Balcony was published by Simon & Schuster in 2019.