Aleksandra Szmidt

Aleksandra Szmidt has created some beautiful children’s picture books worldwide.

Her work is charming - and whimsical - she has  an original feature of producing a magic mail club that she has created on her own  Instagram account which is very popular.

Children, animals... all beautifully brought to the page as fabulous  characters for any  children’s book.

If you are looking for a children’s book illustrator - working in crayons, watercolour and mixed media - check out

Aleksandra’s folder on our website.

Aleksandra Szmidt - Artist Partners

GARETH LUCAS – ABRAMS APPLESEED

Meet nature’s most unusual creepy-crawlies in author Laura Gehl’s and illustrator Gareth Lucas’ latest collaboration Odd Bugs. Getting children excited about science and nature at an early age, this fabulous board book introduces the beautiful glasswing butterfly and the treacherous robber fly among others, brought to life in all their magnificent glory by Gareth’s colourful illustrations.

Gareth Lucas is represented by Meiklejohn

KRISTYNA LITTEN’S BEARLOCK HOLMES DINOSAUR MYSTERY

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Dinosaur Fossil, published by Magic Cat Publishing is the eagerly awaited second book in Kristyna's beloved series - this time taking young detectives somewhere altogether more prehistoric.

When a rare dinosaur fossil vanishes from Bearona's remote Jurassic Ridge, Ivy and her grandpa Bearlock face their trickiest case yet. The trail is packed with twists and hidden clues, all woven through with real facts about fossils, evolution and conservation. As with the first book in the series, the story is brought to life with 15 brain-boggling puzzles that invite readers to join the investigation themselves.

What makes Kristyna Litten’s work so special is her ability to blend gripping storytelling with genuine non-fiction content, all rendered in her signature richly detailed, full-colour illustration style. Based in Yorkshire, her work is instantly recognisable and her client list spans from children’s publishing into luxury product branding and television advertising.

Kristyna Litten is represented by Arena Illustration.

NILA AYE – HACHETTE

Written by the legendary poet Benjamin Zephaniah, this joyful book has been brought to life by Nila Aye’s enchanting illustrations. From playful characters to whimsical scenes, Nila's illustrations capture the heart of Zephaniah's words in the most magical way.

Nila Aye is represented by Meiklejohn

Kate Forrester’s Puffin Clothbound Classics

Kate has beautifully illustrated a wonderful series of Little Puffin Clothbound Classics. They are pocket sized and adorned with gold foil-stamped designs, making them the perfect collectible items for a young person’s own little library.

JAMES COTTELL/BUSTER BOOKS

James created this fantastic artwork for Where's the Pirate' the third book in this series.

"All aboard this pirate search-and-find book, packed full of fun pirate facts and friendly, colourful scenes showing treasure maps, gemstones, parrots, beaches, palm trees and much more. ..."

James has also illustrated , 'Where's the Dinosaur' and 'Where's the Digger'

James Cottell is represented by NB Illustration

GAIA ALESSI COVER ILLUSTRATION FOR WIDE EYE

Published by Pushkin Press this month, Gaia's cover and accompanying map bring Jennifer Liss's mystery-adventure to life, drawing readers into the world of ten-year-old Meridian as she hunts for a legendary lake monster while uncovering long-buried family secrets.

Gaia's bold wrap-around cover immerses readers in a sweeping landscape of rolling hills, mountains and a glimmering lake, with Meridian herself keeping watch for the ever-elusive Wide Eye. Alongside the cover, Gaia created an intricate map of Wide Eye Lake. The work was the result of a close collaboration between Gaia, the publisher and the author, with Jennifer Liss supplying photo reference and thoughtful feedback to ensure the world felt both authentic and richly imagined. The finished cover reads as a genuine extension of the story itself - atmospheric, inviting and full of quiet mystery.

Gaia Alessi is represented by Arena Illustration.

LEVI PINFOLD ILLUSTRATES HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

One of illustration's most extraordinary talents has stepped into the wizarding world again, and the results are nothing short of spellbinding. Levi brings his singular vision to the sixth fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling's beloved series, and the first glimpses are breathtaking.

This month we are thrilled to share a first look at Levi's illustrations for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, published by Bloomsbury. Taking up the baton from Jim Kay, Levi has made the world entirely his own - from the silver instruments of Dumbledore's office to the snow-dusted paths of Hogsmeade and the heady atmosphere of Professor Slughorn's Potions class. J.K. Rowling herself has described his work as spellbinding, and it's hard to disagree. The full edition publishes on 6th October 2026, and pre-orders are open now via Bloomsbury with 30% off and an exclusive tote bag featuring the cover.

Levi Pinfold is represented by Arena Illustration.

RICHARD JOHNSON’S STARRY SEEK-AND-FIND FOR THE OBSERVER

Award-winning illustrator Richard Johnson turns the night sky into a world you can lose yourself in - and his latest commission for The Observer is a breathtaking double-page spread that hides a universe of surprises.

This month we celebrate Richard's stunning editorial work for The Observer, created in anticipation of a rare planetary alignment and in celebration of the South Downs Dark Skies Festival. The brief called for a seek-and-find puzzle tucked inside a visually spectacular spread and Richard delivered something far beyond a simple game. Readers were invited to search a luminous, star-strewn landscape for hidden treasures including a badger, a space rocket flask, a telescope and… a scotch egg! His trademark dreamlike style and luminescent colour palette transformed the commission into something genuinely transporting.

Richard Johnson's editorial illustration work spans decades of commissions for major publications, and his ability to bring warmth, wit and wonder to even the most specific of briefs is second to none. Whether crafting immersive editorial spreads or intricate visual puzzles, his work invites audiences to look closer and always rewards them for doing so.

Richard Johnson is represented by Arena Illustration.

COSMIC KICKS AND ALIEN TRICKS FROM ALEKSEI

Aleksei Bitskoff blasts onto bookshelves with an uproarious cover for The Galaxy World Cup, a galactic football adventure where underdogs meet aliens and chaos reigns.

Get your boots on and prepare for take-off! Alan Joyce’s The Galaxy World Cup lands courtesy of Chicken House Books with a brilliantly bonkers cover illustration by Aleksei Bitskoff that perfectly captures the madness, humour and interstellar action inside. When a rag-tag team of schoolboys get mistaken for Earth’s greatest players and zapped into the universe’s biggest tournament, Aleksei’s character-rich visuals bring every extraterrestrial oddball and unlikely goal scorer to life - on and off the pitch.

Known for his finely observed line work, imaginative worlds and instinctive sense of comedy, Aleksei’s cover doesn’t just sell the story - it sells the fun. From weird alien spectators to snap-shot moments that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from the game, his art effortlessly invites readers aged 7–11 (and anyone who knows the agony and ecstasy of a last-minute goal) to dive in.

Aleksei Bitskoff is represented by Arena Illustration.