Nicola Colton author page

Nicola Colton biography

Nicola Colton is an Irish author and illustrator known for her work in children’s literature. She studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, where she specialised in visual communications. Colton has illustrated and written several picture books, with her distinctive style characterised by playful characters and vibrant colours.

Colton is the creator of the Jasper & Scruff series, published by Stripes Publishing. The series follows the adventures of Jasper, a sophisticated cat, and Scruff, a lively dog, as they navigate friendship and mischief. The first book in the series, Jasper & Scruff, was published in 2019, followed by sequels including Jasper & Scruff: The Great Cat Cake-Off and Jasper & Scruff: Hunt for the Golden Bone.

In addition to her own series, Colton has illustrated books for other authors. She illustrated A Dublin Fairytale by Nicola Colton, published by The O’Brien Press in 2015, which reimagines classic fairy tales in a Dublin setting. Her illustrations have also appeared in titles such as All the Wonderful Ways to Read by Laura Baker.

Colton’s work has been recognised for its appeal to young readers and its engaging visual storytelling. Her books are featured on recommended reading lists, including those compiled by schoolreadinglist.co.uk. In 2019, Jasper & Scruff was published by Stripes Publishing, marking the launch of her first illustrated fiction series.