Kate Read is a children’s book illustrator, who lives in East Anglia, and originally trained as a theatre designer. In 2018, she graduated from the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art and was one of the winners of the SCBWI Undiscovered Voices competition 2018.

Kate loves colour and simplified form; she works using a mixture of media including collage, painting and print making, allowing the project to dictate the direction of the ideas.

Kate’s first picture book, ONE FOX (Two Hoots), a counting book thriller was nominated for the 2020 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for illustrated books and the 2021 UKLA book awards. Kate’s other works published by Two Hoots include BOO! A FISHY MYSTERY, THE LITTLEST ELEPHANT, THE BIG BAD BUG and BRIGHT BIRDS AND THEIR BRILLIANT BRAINS.

Kate has collaborated with Lauren Fairgrieve on press out and learn gift books published by Nosy Crow in association with the National Trust, including BIRDS OF A FEATHER, BUTTERFLY SKIES and BENEATH THE WAVES, where readers can create 3D models of animals while learning fun facts about nature.