Five aspiring children's book illustrators are to benefit from a Scottish-based scheme to boost their careers.
Founded by the leading Edinburgh-based writer Vivian French, the Picture Hooks scheme, which is backed by Creative Scotland, will see the illustrators work with experienced artists for a year, and their work displayed at an exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art for three months.
Ms French is the writer of more than 250 books for children and young adults and has co-founded the scheme to encourage illustrators at the beginning of their careers.
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The scheme will see Steve Antony, Patrick Benson, whose books include Owl Babies, Ross Collins, who created There's a Bear on My Chair, and Debi Gliori, a winner of several book awards, as well as Helen Stephens, work with aspiring illustrators.
This week the new mentees and mentors met for the first time at a workshop at the Scottish National Gallery.
Previous mentees of the scheme have proceeded to sign publishing deals.
Naomi Howarth, who was partnered with Catherine Rayner in 2013/14, went on to have The Crow’s Tale published by Frances Lincoln.
She has subsequently been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2016 and has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2017.
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She said: "Working with Catherine has been lots of fun.
"From our first meeting when she let me rifle through her sketchbooks, to her encouraging me to experiment with lithography, Catherine has been so generous with her time and extensive knowledge. My main objective was to develop characterisation; to make my characters warmer and more approachable."
Ms French, co-founder of Picture Hooks with Lucy Juckes, a leading literary agent, said: "Picture Hooks is going from strength to strength.
"We are now working with the Association of Illustrators and together we intend to expand the scheme to Manchester and the south, in the first instance.”
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She added: "I felt there was a large amount of support for writers, but I did feel there was a large gap of support for illustrators, and the scheme is about building confidence, how to put together a portfolio, how to work with writers and receive advise from someone who knows the industry."
The scheme is funded by Creative Scotland who awarded a new grant at the end of last year through their Open Project Fund.
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