Neal Layton

Neal Layton is a British illustrator of children's books including Oscar and Arabella and Bartholomew and the Bug (2004) which won both the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Bronze Awards.

Education

He was born in Chichester. He has a BA in Graphic Design (Northumbria University) and a MA in Illustration (Central Saint Martins).

Career He is best known for his association with Cressida Cowell as the illustrator of the Emily Brown books. The Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown appeared on the Booktrust Best 100 Children's Book list from the last 100 years.

Other notable collaborations include books with the author Michael Rosen, including illustrations for Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed, which won the Sheffield Children’s Book Award in 2016.

Amongst a great many others, he illustrated Where the Bugaboo Lives, an interactive choose your own adventure story by Sean Taylor, which won the Hampshire Illustrated Book Award and the Coventry Inspiration Book Award. It is now a Little Angel Theatre production.

Neal now lives on the Isle of Wight.

Selected Books as Author and Illustrator

The Tree: An Environmental Fable (Walker Books, 2017) A Planet Full of Plastic: and how you can help (Wren & Rook, 2019) A Climate in Chaos: and how you can help (Wren & Rook, 2020) A World Full of Wildlife: and how you can protect it (Wren & Rook, 2022) The Story of Everything (Hodder Children's Books, 2023) The Big Story of Being Alive (Wren & Rook, 2023) The Story Of Things (Hodder Children's Books, 2024) What is AI? by Neal Layton (Hodder Children's Books, 2024)

Selected Books as Illustrator

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown written by Cressida Cowell (Orchard Books, 2006) Poo: A Natural History of the Unmentionable written by Nicola Davies (Walker Books, 2014) Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed written by Michael Rosen (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2016)

Awards

2002 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Bronze Award) Oscar and Arabella 2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Bronze Award) Bartholomew and the Bug 2004 Sheffield Children’s Book Prize (picture book winner) Jennifer Jones Won’t Leave Me Alone with Frieda Wishinsky 2008 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Gold Award) That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown with Cressida Cowell. 2014 SLA Information Book Award (winner under 7's category) The Story of Stars 2016 Sheffield Children’s Book Award (Overall Winner) Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed with Michael Rosen 2017 Hampshire Illustrated Book Award Where the Bugaboo Lives with Sean Taylor 2018 Hampshire Picture Book Award (picture book winner) Danny McGee Drinks the Sea with Andy Stanton