upcoming Workshops & EVENTS
Orange Beak Opportunity
Orange Beak Studio are a team of award-winning illustrators, designers, authors and editors who offer one-to-one tutorials, portfolio reviews, talks and workshops for aspiring and professional picture book makers.
Throughout 2025 Orange Beak Studio is offering TWO free places to attend all of their online events, which include a wide variety of practical skills workshops, lectures from industry professionals, and a series of regular talks with award-winning writers and illustrators.
Orange Beak understands that not everyone has the same opportunities to learn and develop, so their aim in creating this offer is to help play a small part in bringing a greater diversity to the stories we see and read.
Applications from both ethnic minority and/or lower socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged, as both are under-represented in publishing and children’s book illustration. Applications from anyone who is passionate about children’s book design, writing, editing and illustration are welcome.
Applicants are invited to submit a short statement outlining what the opportunity would mean to their creative practice.
All submissions should be sent directly to orangebeakstudio@gmail.com, with the subject line ‘Orange Beak Opportunity’, no later than 25th November 2024.
Terms and conditions:
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Applications from any country are welcome.
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Previous attendees of any Orange Beak event may apply.
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Successful applicants will be notified by the end of 2024.
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Successful applicants are encouraged to attend all Orange Beak events, but the Orange Beak team understands this may not be possible, and ask that you inform them if you are unable to attend an event.
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This offer is for the successful applicant only and cannot be shared with anyone else.
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This offer does not include any in-person event or access to the Orange Beak Patreon.
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All events are online, all are recorded.
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At the end of the 2025 successful applicants will be asked for a statement detailing how this opportunity has furthered your practice.
how to write a picture book
with LOU GROSART
ONLINE: saturDAY 12th october 10am-1PM (UK bst)
Have you ever wanted to write a picture book but didn’t know where to start?
Perhaps you are brimming with ideas but don’t know which one will hit the mark.
Join picture book expert Louise Grosart for a workshop on writing for the preschool audience.
During the workshop, you will learn about:
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Different types of picture books
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The latest trends
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Top tips for writing for preschool children (and their carers!)
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The publishing process
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How to submit to agents
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Two picture book structures to make your own
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Common pitfalls to look out for in your writing
You’ll also get the chance to get independent feedback on your ideas from Lou at the end of the session! We can’t wait to see you there!
Workshop Structure:
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Introduction to writing for picture books
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Hands-On exercises
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Live feedback session
About Lou:
Louise Grosart has been working for the UK’s biggest publishers for over a decade. Specialising in preschool and picture books, she has worked on some of the biggest authors, illustrators and brands in children’s publishing, including Tom Fletcher, Chris Chatterton, Shirley Hughes, Topsy & Tim, Tintin, Raymond Briggs and Bluey, as well as launching a host of debut talent.
Lou is well-known in the industry for her commercial publishing talent, thoughtful feedback and sparky ideas. She currently works for Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, one of the big 5 publishers.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you 24 hours before the event.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording of the workshop lecture - which will be available to view back for one week. You will be sent a link for this within 48 hours of the event. Alongside the link, you will also receive details of the activity in a PDF.
gemma koomen
illustrator and AUTHOR
ONLINE: ThurSDAY 17TH october 7-8.30PM (UK BST)
Join us for an evening talk with Gemma Koomen, illustrator and author.
Gemma Koomen works on projects for a variety of clients which have included Penguin Random House, Quarto Books and Flow Magazine. Her work has been featured in the national press in magazines such as Country Living, and her picture book The Tree Keepers:Flock was a Sunday Times Children’s Book to Watch Out For. Gemma’s beautiful paper goods - greetings cards, calendars and recently giclee prints - are sold by stockists all over the world.
Gemma is based in beautiful, wild Northumberland. Inspired by the simple things in life, Gemma loves time in nature and observing the tiny worlds that open when you are quiet enough to notice them, and this influence is clearly seen in her work.
Gemma will be speaking about her work and process, her career and her inspirations. There will also be an audience Q&A opportunity.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
naomi kirsten
editor and creative consultant
ONLINE: TueSDAY 22ND october 7-8.30PM (UK BST)
How to Think Like an Editor When Preparing Your Picture Book for Submission
Join us for an evening of Industry Insights with independent editor and creative consultant, Naomi Kirsten
Creating a must-acquire picture book requires knowledge of the craft as well as the context. Naomi will talk about the top qualities that editors and publishers are looking for when considering picture books for publication, and how you can use that knowledge to most effectively prepare your project and pitch for submission.
Naomi Kirsten is a freelance editor, creative consultant, and former Senior Editor at Chronicle Books. During her 16 years at Chronicle, Naomi acquired and edited hundreds of titles, including award-winning picture books, novelty books, board books, cookbooks, games, and product lines. Naomi’s notable books include New York Times Notable Book and Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner The Bear’s Song; Neighbors, winner of the BolognaRagazzi Award Opera Prima and the international bestseller I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… which has 22 foreign editions to date.
Naomi has also developed product and publishing programs with Marc Boutavant, Benjamin Chaud, Marianna Coppo, LucasFilm, Moomin and NASA among others. Through her creative consultancy, Naomi collaborates with authors and illustrators all over the world to prepare and optimize their work for submission and publication.
Join us to learn the best way to prepare your picture book for submission, and how to create a pitch that is effective and successful. Following Naomi’s talk we will host an audience Q&A.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
satoshi kitaMura
ILLUSTRATOR and author
ONLINE: THURSDAY 24TH october 7-9PM (UK BST)
Join us for an evening talk with author and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura.
Satoshi was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to London in 1893. Klaus Flugge of Anderson Press gave Satoshi the opportunity to illustrate his first picture book, ‘Angry Arthur’ by Hiawyn Oram, which was published in 1982 and won the Mother Goose Award in 1983. In 1989, UFO Diary was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, an award he later went on to win for Me and My Cat, which was also shortlisted for the Kurt Mashler Award. In 2006, Satoshi’s collaboration with Colin McNaughton, Once Upon an Ordinary School Day, won The Japan Picture Book Award for best translated book. Satoshi’s book, Millie’s Marvellous Hat, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award in 2010. Satoshi lived and worked in the UK until 2009, and is now based in Japan, where he works largely with British publishers including Scallywag Press, Andersen Press and Walker Books.
Satoshi has taken part in book fairs in many countries including the UK, India, South Africa, Japan and some South East Asian countries. Over the last two decades, he has visited Mexico and Colombia many times to do workshops for children and adults.
During this live Zoom event, Satoshi will speak about his work, his career, process and influences, and will answer questions from the audience too in a live Q&A.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
mabel hsu and taylor norman
biased and candid advice from your editors
ONLINE: ThursDAY 7th november 7-8.30PM (UK GMT)
MY EDITOR ISN’T RESPONDING TO MY TENTH EMAIL . . . SHOULD I BE WORRIED?
Biased and Candid Advice from Your Editors, Taylor & Mabel
Mabel Hsu has been giving unsolicited advice for far too long and is delighted to finally be given a platform to do so formally. She thinks we should all wear more sunscreen, give our friends hyper-specific compliments, and send flowers to people just because. Mabel is an Editorial Director at Sourcebooks because she took her own advice to stop being a coward. She’s had the pleasure of being the editor on titles such as Butterfly Child, Spider in the Well, The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, and Nigel and the Moon. Disclaimer: she once advised someone into a bad haircut, so your results may vary.
Taylor Norman is the Executive Editor of Neal Porter Books and the lifetime recipient of many words of advice. She is famous for ignoring such advice as “stop overthinking everything,” “you don't need to take it so seriously,” and “try to keep your eyes open when someone is taking a picture of you.” A few books she’s proud to have edited are The Eyes & the Impossible (Newbery Medal), Have You Ever Seen a Flower? (Caldecott Honor), Ode to a Bad Day (Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book) and the Lowriders in Space graphic novel series (Pura Belpré Medal).
You can submit a question to ask Taylor & Mabel here - this is your chance to get insight, clarity, and advice on your particular publishing predicament. Write in anonymously with your questions and situations, but please don't use any names or book titles. Selected questions will be responded to live during the talk.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
dick bruna: a life in pictures
bruce ingman and ramona reihill
ONLINE: TueSDAY 19TH november 7-8.30PM (UK GMT)
Following their collaboration on Dutch artist Dick Bruna - published by Thames & Hudson as part of ‘The Illustrators’ series - illustrator Bruce Ingman and editor Ramona Reihill will join us to discuss researching the book, discovering Bruna’s lesser-known work and taking a look at the life of the artist himself. Best known for creating Miffy, Bruna was also a man of many media, including drawing, painting, collage and photography.
Bruce Ingman is an illustrator, writer and teacher. He is best known for his award-winning partnership with Allan Ahlberg including The Pencil, The Runaway Dinner and its recently published companion, Under the Table. Bruce’s illustrations have been reviewed as ‘ravishingly elegant . . . whimsical . . . with a childlike simplicity and exuberance.’ Bruce is Head of the MA Children’s Literature: Children’s Book Illustration course at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Ramona Reihill was a children’s book editor and publisher for many years working on lists that included Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo and the Ahlbergs, as well as Winnie-the-Pooh, Tintin and Miffy. More recently she has been involved with the creative writing charity, Fighting Words, and is an editorial associate tutor for Orange Beak Studio.
Bruce and Ramona are currently working on a new book project for Thames & Hudson.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
CHUCK GROENINK
ILLUSTRATOR and author
ONLINE: THURSDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 7-9PM (UK GMT)
Join us for an evening with picture book illustrator and author Chuck Groenink.
Chuck Groenink has worked with publishers in the US and Europe on over two dozen children’s books, including Full Moon Pups, Hungry Jim, The Friend Ship and William’s Winter Nap, and was awarded the Fiep Westendorp Prize in 2007. He strives to make books that reflect his curiosity about the world we live in. His debut picture book Boy Here, Boy There was described as ‘A lyrical and beautifully imagined prehistoric encounter’ in a Kirkus starred review.
Originally from the Netherlands, Chuck now lives in the US, in New York’s village where you can find him riding his bike, gardening, or more likely drawing.
During this Orange Beak Evening Chuck will give us an insight into his inspirations, how he makes his beautiful work, and his career so far. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 5pm UK time.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
PICTURE, PACE, FLOW!
A SEQUENTIAL ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP
WITH SARA OGILVIE
ONLINE: TUESDAY 26th NOVEMber 10am-1PM (UK GMt)
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Workshop Highlights:
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Explore compositions and layouts to visually direct your character's action and keep your reader engaged.
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Understand how sequential illustration principles affect the pace, emotion, text flow and page turn.
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Learn tips and techniques on pictorial interpretation and sequence.
What to Expect:
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Dive into exercises designed to enhance your visual storytelling.
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Explore dynamic uses of shape, scale, angle and viewpoint to drive a narrative.
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Gain insight into Sara’s picture book methods and processes to maximise each story’s unique drama and tempo.
Workshop Structure:
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Introduction to illustration planning process and sequencing
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Hands on exercises to improve sequential flow
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Live feedback session
Who Should Attend: This workshop is open to all, regardless of experience level.
About Sara:
Sara Ogilvie is an award-winning illustrator and printmaker from Edinburgh, based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
After many years working primarily as a printmaker her first steps into the world of picture books resulted in Dogs Don’t do Ballet, with writer Anna Kemp, published in 2010 for Simon and Schuster. Since then her picture book collaborations have made numerous shortlists including The Roald Dahl Funny prize (3 times) Sainsburys Picture Book awards (twice) and the Waterstones Children’s Prize. Her Illustrated books have been adapted for the stage by The Little Angel Puppet Theatre in London, and New Writing North in Tyneside, while animated pages have been created for TV on the Bookaboo series.
Sara has taught illustration and printmaking for over 20 years at many colleges and universities both in the UK and abroad. She currently teaches part time on the Graphic Design course at Northumbria University.
A fantastic opportunity to learn about the vital art of sequential flow in picture books from a top industry professional.
Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you 24 hours before the event.
The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording of the workshop lecture - which will be available to view back for one week. You will be sent a link for this within 48 hours of the event. Alongside the link, you will also receive details of the activity in a PDF.