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ABOUT ORANGE BEAK STUDIO
Orange Beak Studio was founded in 2017 from a desire to work closely with illustrators and authors,
to share knowledge and offer insight and encouragement for creatives.
The co-founders of Orange Beak Studio are:
Maisie Paradise Shearring an award-winning internationally published author and illustrator
Ness Wood an award-winning designer and art director
Orange Beak Studio Associate:.
Katie Harnett is an award-winning internationally published author and illustrator.
The Orange Beak Studio tutors have varied but complementary skills. Maisie, Ness, Katie and Lou are all practising specialists in their fields of illustration, design and editorial respectively. In addition to this, both Maisie and Ness have teaching experience at post-graduate level.
We offer:
one-to-one 60 minute illustration tutorials
one-to-one 60 minute design tutorials
one-to-one editorial tutorials with individual written feedback
portfolio feedback
varied workshops
creative picture book week
monthly orange beak evenings
We work with clients at all stages of their development, from those who are brand new to it all, to illustrators and authors early in their career, to graduates and more established illustrators and authors.
Our ethos is to support and enable creatively ambitious clients to move forward with their goals.
We give people time, honest and constructive feedback, and guidance.
"Having been stuck in a creative rut for a while, I was struggling to feel excited by my work and I would often find myself pulled in many different directions. Orange Beak took me right back to basics to help me discover who I am as an illustrator. Their advice and support gave me the confidence to draw from the heart and now I am creating pieces that I feel truly proud of. I can’t thank them enough!"
The Orange Beak Team
Maisie paradise shearring
CO-FOUNDER & Tutor
Maisie Paradise Shearring is an international award-winning and published author-illustrator. In 2015, Maisie received the prestigious Bologna International Illustrators Award in recognition for her graphic novel, Susan's School Days. Her first picture book, The Happy Prince, was nominated for the 2017 Bratislava Biennial of Illustration. Maisie's picture books include, I'm Actually Really Grown-Up Now and Anna & Otis, both published by Two Hoots. Maisie has also recently illustrated, The Boy Who Loved Everyone, a picture book story written by Jane Porter and published by Walker Books. This book was awarded The Little Rebels Children's Book Award. Maisie has post-graduate lecturing experience, having worked on the MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Currently Maisie is a mentor for the Picture Hooks scheme.
"Not only is Maisie the most phenomenally talented illustrator and author, she's also truly fantastic to work with. In addition to her calm, clear-thinking approach to creativity she has an open-mindedness and a gift for empathy that make collaborating with her an immensely productive and hugely enjoyable experience."
Nick Sharratt, Author & Illustrator
NESS WOOD
CO-FOUNDER & Tutor
Ness Wood is an award-winning book designer and art director and she has worked for many major publishers. She has taught Publishing at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), on the Illustration MA course at Goldsmiths, University of London, run the Cambridge School of Art Summer School (2014-2020) and taught Design History at the University of Brighton. Ness is a Leader in Residence at UCLAN. Her wide-ranging accomplishments in practical design and as a published author with qualifications in design history serve as a solid foundation for all her work. She is known for her encouraging, straightforward and collaborative approach with illustrators and students. Ness has also been a judge for the Bologna Ragazzi Award. In 2018, Ness Wood was part of the winning team at the British Design and Production Awards, in the Graphic Novel Category.
"Ness Wood is one of the most talented and creative designers I have ever worked with. Her contribution to my Alfie books in particular has been invaluable. Her suggestions are never obtrusive, but her aesthetic grasp on the way a picture book works, and how it impacts on the very young reader, is impeccable"
Shirley Hughes, Author & Illustrator
Katie Harnett
ASSOCIATE Tutor
Katie Harnett is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her books include Archie Snufflekins Oliver Valentine Cupcake Tiberius Cat, which was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway medal and the Franklin’s Flying Bookshop series written by Jen Campbell. She has worked with publishers including Walker Books, Thames & Hudson, Flying Eye and Nosy Crow in the UK and Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books and Compendium in the US. Katie runs workshops and gives illustration advice in schools around the UK, SEN schools, Universities and at literary festivals. She loves helping clients to identify new ways of problem solving, will give clear feedback on how to take your work to the next level, provides frank and honest industry advice and is here to help out when you’ve just lost that loving (illustration) feeling.
"I had a tutorial with Katie and found it extremely beneficial, well organised, encouraging and enjoyable. Katie was an amazing tutor and her professional yet genuinely warm kind and enthusiastic manner made it easy to discuss the obstacles I've been trying to over come . . . Katie gave me some brilliant practical tips and suggestions with lots of examples given."
Orange Beak client
tony lee
ADMINISTRATOR
Tony Lee is an experienced administrator having worked extensively in the academic and arts sectors. He spent over ten years with the University of Manchester as a programme administrator in various faculties, including Humanities, Health and Engineering. He previously worked in the arts industry, managing box offices in both the subsidised and commercial sectors, including London’s West End. For the last ten years he has been independently researching the history of the television programme, This Is Your Life.
"Tony has organised us in a way we never thought possible!
He is brilliant to work with, dedicated to helping Orange Beak and our clients. Tony is calm, reassuring, confident and extremely competent.
The king of spreadsheets!
Maisie, Ness & Alice, Orange Beak Studio