Paul is a professional illustrator with lots of stories to tell.
He helps run a weekend picture book retreat for other writers and illustrators.
He likes frogs, wild mushrooms and mountain biking and gets lots of his best ideas whilst out pedalling.
He keeps frogs in the pond in his garden and has actually names quite a few of them.
His favourite word is pebble.
Our chat with Paul…
And I’ve always drawn. Sketchbooks right back to school age.
We made dens and climbed tress and had adventures but then to discover that a cave boy was living and existing in similar conditions and having fun everyday was brilliant. I used to play at being Stig of the dump. One memorable but worrying memory was stealing a large vat of mushy peas from behind a chippy and taking them to our den for a feast.
Your voice is you! You don’t have to pretend that you’re another Oliver Jeffers or Roald Dahl to succeed. YOU are something new and unique and presented well will be a breath of fresh air to the editors reading your submission.
I remember a friend telephoning to say he’d had a busy morning in horrible meetings and felt stressed,.. he asked what I was doing and I was making plasticine frogs as reference for a print. I felt a bit guilty along with the pleasure.
Bug Belly, the ever-hungry but ingenious frog, must rescue 100's of tiny taddies from a pond that is quickly draining. But why is it emptying, only he and and his hungry tum know why! To save them all he's going to need his cleverest plan ever, and especially if he's to avoid Old Snapper, the ferocious Pike, Heron AND Sneaky Snake?!
Website: www.bugbelly.com
Twitter: @paulhotfrog