The short bit:
Jason is a fabulous, funny author and illustrator who you really should commission.
The long bit:
Following Foundation and Degree studies at Bradford and Camberwell colleges of art, Jason's busy and varied illustration career has included large-scale illustrations for museums in London, Chicago and Singapore, and long-term associations with the NSPCC, illustrating their Christmas ‘Letters from Santa’, and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, illustrating books, publications and merchandise. He has produced many children’s books, collaborated with children's television producers, Ragdoll Productions and illustrated live on TV for the BBC’s Springwatch Unsprung, after his Springwatch-inspired illustrations were spotted on Twitter.
Jason’s picture book, 'Stan and Mabel', about a music-loving dog and cat, was adapted into a hugely successful show by children’s composer Paul Rissman and performed around the UK by Sheffield's Ensemble 360 and in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, Edinburgh with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Perth, Australia with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Following the success of Stan and Mabel, Sheffield based Music in the Round commissioned Jason to write and illustrate a new story for Paul Rissman to compose new original music. This time Stan and Mabel try to help a whole carnival of animals escape from the School for Wild and Dangerous Animals in search of a safe place to call their home. 'Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space' premiered to a packed Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Learn the songs with Chris Jarvis!
Jason has never been short of ideas for stories and characters and so to capture this continuous stream of general silliness in words and pictures, he carries a tiny home-made sketch book in his pocket at all times. You never know when a good idea may strike!
He lives in Devon with his wife, children and two rescue cats. Jason currently combines his author & illustrator work alongside supporting children with SEN/SEMH needs in secondary schools. He leads therapeutic art sessions, and as a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, helps struggling children and young people to feel happy in school.
His studio is based in the historic Whitty House, where Thomas Whitty began making the world famous Axminster carpets in 1755!
Jason enjoys reading, running, cycling, swimming, football, cooking, long walks and baking bread. Jason does not enjoy writing in third person.
