ANGELA BARRETT

Angela Barrett studied illustration at the Royal College of Art and after graduating in 1980, she began an acclaimed career in children's book illustration. She lives in London.

Angela has illustrated many books including the haunting Anne Frank written by Josephine Poole, published in 2005. Angela also illustrated Josephine’s Joan of Arc published in 1998.

BOB GRAHAM

I live in Australia with my wife, Carolyn, a printmaker who makes landscapes out of lino and wood. We have two grown-up children and two grandchildren, Oliver and his older sister Rosie – and to them I am ‘Bob’ rather than ‘Grandad’ (somehow that name has the feeling of pipes, carpet slippers and rocking chairs; and I’m not quite ready for that). I read them books (mostly other people’s and, very occasionally, my own), and we just blob around and go to the park, and things like that.

Every time a computer graphics course is advertised in the local paper, I say, “I must go.” But I always have something else to do, it seems. So I still use a pen dipped in ink, and chalks and watercolour, and scissors and sticky tape.

Things you didn't know about Bob Graham:

1. I like surfing and Irish music.
2. I like chillies, coffee, chocolate and reading in bed.
3. I like Bob Dylan, babies, breakfast and beer.
4. I like looking out of the window, sitting in the sun and drawing.
5. I like skateboarders, rock and roll, and interesting parcels.
6. I like family photo albums, train journeys and reunions at airports.

CATHERINE RAYNER

Award winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with a small menagerie of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat, goldfish Sheila and a speckly black and tan guinea pig called Marvin.

She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models, frequently asking Ena to pose so that she can study her posture and movement. Then she translates sketches of Ena into characters such as dragons and hares, not to mention moose and bears! But it was creatures of a wilder kind that inspired her first picture book, Augustus and His Smile – Catherine spent hours and hours watching and sketching tigers at Edinburgh Zoo. Augustus and His Smile was shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 2007.

CHRIS WORMELL

Chris Wormell was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire and studied painting and lino cutting with his father, John Wormell. In 1982 he took up wood engraving with a view to seeking work as a book illustrator. He has since written a number of books for children and adults as well as working in the fields of advertising and design. His first book for children, An Alphabet of Animals, was made for his son Jack. Chris went on to write several more children’s books and in 2003, Two Frogs was published to great acclaim, shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal and won another award.

In January 2005 Chris was commissioned to design a set of stamps featuring farmyard animals which were issued by the Royal Mail.

Chris Wormell now lives in London with his wife and three children.

DAVE MCKEAN

As a child I loved drawing, playing the piano and science fiction films. My father also played piano and would draw cartoon characters for me. I've always been determined to make the most of his genes, and try as many creative things as possible. I now live in Kent with my wife Clare, and two children.

I've always loved music and wanted to design CD covers and a couple of comic-book fans at record labels gave me my first professional work in this area. In 1996 I decided I wanted to make a film and wrote two shorts, The Week Before and N[eon]. I shot them in my barn with no budget and a tiny crew, and slowly completed them while learning how to edit and make special effects.

As an artist I've realised a few things over the last 20 years:

• I'm a slow learner, preferring to make my own mistakes rather than take professional advice.
• I love comics, and hope to make another couple of comic novels before I'm 50.
• I don't have skin thick enough to survive in the film industry. If I can make films my own way, I'll continue to try.
• Spending all your time doing things you love is a great life to aim for.

MARC CRASTE

Marc Craste is a senior animation director working at Studio AKA in London. Before coming to the UK in 1998, Marc worked extensively in animation studios in Sydney and in Copenhagen.

Marc has designed and directed many award-winning commercials including the much-admired Big Win spot for the National Lottery. His 12-minute debut short film, JoJo in the Stars, won the 2004 BAFTA for Best Animated Short Film.

Since Varmints publication, Marc has also directed a half-hour animated short film based on the book. The film premièred in the US at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2008 where it won the Grand Prize for Best Animation. It was also short-listed for the Academy Awards and recently received a nomination for the BAFTA Best Short Animation.

THOMAS DOCHERTY

Thomas Docherty was born in New Zealand but has spent most of his life in England where he went to school and university. He studied metalwork and sculpture at Art College and has always liked drawing, especially whilst on his travels, which have taken him to Africa, Asia and South America.

After leaving Art College, Thomas lived in Madrid for six years, where he wrote and illustrated his first book Pip and the Lost Dream which has been published in Taiwan, Spain and South Africa. He now works mostly in the UK and continues to write his own children’s stories, which have been nominated for various awards. He lives in Bristol with his wife and young daughter.

He also illustrates other people’s work, most recently the Scandinavian classic The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf.