StyleNest talks to award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Emily Gravett. 

Emily Gravett is a Brighton based illustrator and a mum to a teenage daughter. With children’s titles including the gorgeous Dogs and the charming Again! under her belt we’ve become big fans of her work here at StyleNest. We caught up with Emily to talk creative inspiration, the best vegetarian cuisine in Brighton and her new found love of rollerskating. 

Tell us about your career as an illustrator and author. How did you get in to it?

I had a bit of a mis-spent youth, and consequently drifted for a long time not knowing what career path to take. I had my daughter when I was in my mid-twenties, and she was a howler. The only thing that soothed her was reading picture books together. We read a lot of picture books, and I fell in love with them. In my late twenties I started an illustration degree, and in the final year I was lucky enough to get a publishing deal by submitting one of my university projects (my first book Wolves) into a competition run by Macmillan Children’s Books.

We loved your adorable book Again! featuring Cedric the Dragon. Where do you get your creative inspiration?

Thank you. Creative inspiration is the single hardest part of my job. There’s no magic formula for having a good idea, it’s mostly about hanging around and hoping something will pop up. It pays to be nosy.

We’re big dog fans here at StyleNest, tell us about your gorgeous book Dogs?

I’ve always loved dogs, and owned them ever since I left home (my mum is a cat person so I’d never been allowed one). After our last dog, Tip died of old age we really missed having a dog around the house. So while I should have been busy coming up with a new book, I was actually trawling the internet for a new rescue dog. When I’m thinking about something, I tend to doodle it, so after a couple of months I had loads of drawings of dogs. The book had crept up on me while I wasn’t looking. We also had a lovely new dog. A very handsome rescue Saluki called Otto. He’s a bit of a canine supermodel.

You are mum to your teenage daughter, is she artistic like you?

My daughter has never really shown much interest in drawing or anything artistic (she takes after her dad). Even when she was tiny, the pens and paints were relegated to the back of the drawer. I come from a family where everyone draws, so it felt a bit odd at first, but she has her own interests and talents, all of which makes me really proud. I’d rather she followed her own path.

How do you juggle a successful career with family life? Do you have any top tips for staying on top of it all?

I’m incredibly lucky. I’ve always managed to more or less fit my career around my family. The advantage of working from home is I’m about after school and to cook the tea. I also have a great partner who is very supportive and easily takes up any slack when I need to be out of the house.

When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing with the family?

We’ve recently all taken up roller skating. It’s more fun than I can describe. It’s become a family obsession, and has the huge advantage that it’s a great work out too.

You live in Brighton with your family, can you recommend any family friendly restaurants that both adults and surly teenagers enjoy?

We all love Binari’s – the Korean restaurant. Bibimbap is a family favourite and for a treat the vegetarian restaurant Terre a Terre is delicious.

What’s you all time favourite book?

I don’t have a favourite novel (although Wolf Hall comes close). For picture books my favourite is John Vernon Lord’s Giant Jam Sandwich which is about a village invaded by wasps. I’ve loved it ever since my parents read it to me when I was tiny.

How do you relax when you get a chance to grab some me-time?

For quiet relaxation it has to be the sofa in pyjamas, a lit fire, and a good film.

Are there any mums out there that really inspire you?

I only got to one child before I realised any more would overwhelm me, so I admire anyone who manages more. Especially my friend Pennie who has four.

How would you describe your home style? Any top tips for our mums on how to get teenagers to tidy their rooms?

My home style is not as tidy as I’d like. Practically everything in my house has a story behind it or is there because I truly love it, and think it’s beautiful. Most of my furniture is second hand (even my kitchen units were a £5 ebay buy). Anything that isn’t loved gets replaced sooner or later. I don’t think it makes for a particularly cohesive look, but it’s very cosy. My daughter’s room is beautifully tidy . . . at least once a month after I threaten to put everything on the floor out for the bin men.

Dogs is now out in boardbook price £5.99. Available in all good bookshops. For more information on Emily or her books, visit emilygravett.com