Dave Thorne
Always having fun, never miserable and always up to mischief. That could be one of the characters in the Wobblebottom Farm book series, but it also applies to me. I look a bit like the farmer, I’m happy and dozy like Donkey and like to misbehave like Brian – the naughtiest turkey. During the covid lockdowns I was able to get time to entertain myself in writing and publishing fun books for kids to either read themselves or to read with their parents. Four have now been published.
I can’t draw for toffee, with a cow coming out looking like an ugly horse for instance. So I’ve relied on the expertise of Kris Lillyman to bring the stories to life – which he does so superbly. There’s plenty more books to come such as Brian the Hypnotist Turkey, Little Duck learns to sing, and many more…
As for me, I was born in the charming Hertfordshire town of Hatfield and have been married for over 30 years to my long-suffering wife. I enjoy Shreddies for breakfast nearly every morning. I have a love of sausages and like to balance things on my nose. I can catch 31 coins when balanced on my elbow and can wiggle both my nose and ears at the same time.
Other than that, I’m a tiny little fellow with big ears, big feet and big hands. So I could easily appear as an elf or a goblin in someone else’s story.
Kris Lillyman
I’m a cheerful, chubby, cake-loving, cartoonist from Kettering with an unhealthy obsession with trainers – which is ironic considering I spend most of my time sitting in a chair drawing funny pictures and very little time (in fact none) actually training.
I have been drawing cartoons since I was five years old when, obsessed with ‘Asterix the Gaul’, I would trace him fanatically. Then, one day, before school, I drew him freehand. ‘Blimey!’ I thought, ridiculously impressed with myself, ‘how did I do that?’
Even at such a young age it was a genuine ‘Eureka’ moment and that simple revelation spawned a life-long passion for drawing my own characters and cartoons which initially led to a career in graphic design and then finally to what I consider to be the best job in the world, illustrating children’s books.
Having worked as a freelance illustrator for over thirty years, I have a fabulous time bringing the likes of Dave Thorne’s hilarious stories to life, spending my days with the wonderful characters of Wobblebottom Farm along with many, many more.
I also write and illustrate my own books whenever I have time which are silly and fun, too, much like myself. Sadly, I have no other discernible talents, as my long-suffering wife will attest – I can’t even change a plug.
Mind you, I am generally jolly and always laughing, so it’s not all bad – and I do own some really quite lovely trainers.
Cake anyone?