Sam Usher author page

Sam Usher biography

Sam Usher is a British author and illustrator known for his expressive watercolour artwork and engaging picture books. He studied illustration at the University of the West of England in Bristol. His debut picture book, Can You See Sassoon?, was published in 2012 and shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Red House Children’s Book Award.

Usher is best known for his series featuring a boy and his grandfather, which includes titles such as Snow, Rain, Sun, and Storm. These books explore the bond between generations through imaginative adventures and have collectively sold over half a million copies worldwide. In 2024, a special anniversary edition titled Adventures with Grandad was released, compiling the seasonal quartet into a single volume.

Continuing the theme, Usher expanded the series with titles like Free, Wild, Lost, Found, Zoom!, and Clang!, each delving into new escapades shared by the central characters. His illustrative style employs watercolours, gouache, Indian ink, and Victorian dip pens, contributing to the distinctive aesthetic of his work.

Beyond his own narratives, Usher has collaborated with other authors, providing illustrations for books such as All Aboard the London Bus by Patricia Toht and You’re a Poet by Sean Taylor. He is represented by Neil Dunnicliffe at Spring Literary.