About me

I’ve always loved to draw, but it wasn’t until I had three small children and a towering picture book collection that I decided to try my hand at illustration. Six months later, I landed my first picture book contract and began writing soon after.

Based in Brisbane, I write quirky playful stories and illustrate digitally using watercolour brushes. When I’m not writing or illustrating, I can be found covered in clay, working as a production potter while I dream up new characters to bring to life.

Having worked as an illustrator with nine different publishers over as many years, I’ve accumulated considerable knowledge, skills and experience I’d love to pass on. In 2024 I will be teaching a Picture Book Illustration course at the Brisbane Institute of Art. To register, click HERE or, for more information, message me directly and I’ll get back to you.

Check out the trailer for Too Many Ducks (2021) below…

Follow my journey on Instagram

How cool is this?? Posted @withregram • @emily_s_smith_author My old mate Garbage Guts has been translated into Korean! I'm beyond excited about this! AAAAARGH! @larrikinhouse @heidicsmithau #garbageguts #foreigntranslation #koreanpicturebook
A little peek inside Too Many Ducks from Little Pink Dog Books. What would you do if six ducks showed up one day, expecting to play? I think I’d be ok with it ;) . . . . . . . . . #picturebookillustration #picturebook #childrensbooks #illustrat
Spotted at my dear friend’s favourite book shop - @collinsbooksellerswagga If you spot Too Many Ducks somewhere too, I’d love for you to tag me! . . . . #bookshop #picturebook #childrensbooks #ducklove #booksofinstagram #kidlitart
So very excited to see the wonderful @sarahferguson15 reading Bad Herbert. Congratulations @mikelucasauthor and big thanks to @larrikinhouse Posted @withregram • @storytimewithfergieandfriends @sarahferguson15 reading Bad Herbert by @mikelucasa
Can you guess which theme we’re featuring on @theillustrationstation this week?? Loving these illustrations! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #illustratorsofinstagram #childrensbookillustration #illustrationforkids #icecreamlover #icecreamlove #ill
RELEASE DAY!!! Posted @withregram • @theillustrationstation BOOK BABY #newrelease @heidicsmithau (author/illustrator) ‘Too Many Ducks’ One day, Alexander woke to find a duck waiting. As more arrived, his life overflowed with fun. But
DAY 10 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. I’d like to end as I began - with an image from my about to be released book, Too Many Ducks, with Little Pink Dog Books. This n
DAY 9 I was nominated by the incredibly talented Tania McCartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. The first three months of this year have been spent creating readers for an educational publisher called Multilit. Completing 80 pages o
DAY 8 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. I’ve always loved 4th wall stories so was thrilled to kick off 2020 illustrating Bad Herbert (by @mikelucasauthor, from @larrikinh
DAY 7 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. In 2019 I illustrated Garbage Guts (by Emily S Smith, @larrikinhouse) - my first book created digitally. I couldn’t bring myself t
DAY 6 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. My next book as author-illustrator was Six Sleepy Mice in 2019 with Little Pink Dog Books. Those of you who know my work quite well migh
I consider myself extremely lucky to have TWO jobs I love. This is the other one 😊. . . . . . . . . . . #australianpottery #claylove #potterylove #sundayafternoon
DAY 5 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. In 2016 I won the CYA illustrated manuscript competition, which led to the judge (Wombat Books) offering me my first contract as author-
DAY 4 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for 10 days. This is from my first ever book - Two Birds on a Wire, by the amazing @coralvass . I was ridiculously lucky to be offered this contract
DAY 3 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my illustrations for the next 10 days. Another oldie, this time from 2015. This was the first story I ever attempted to write. Half a dozen versions later, it’s
DAY 2 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my own illustrations for the next 10 days. I think of this one as my first real illustration. I still remember how excited I was to post it in Tania’s 52 week i
DAY 1 I was nominated by the incredibly talented @taniamccartney to post some of my own illustrations for the next 10 days. This illustration is from my upcoming release TOO MANY DUCKS with @littlepinkdogbooks This nomination is part of an initi
An illustration from a reader about cooking with Grandma... with a difference. Can you tell I’m enjoying these? Posted with the permission of Multilit. . . . . . . . . . . . #picturebookillustration #illustrationforkids #childrensbookillustrati
My favourite page from a reader I recently finished illustrating for Multilit called Pig, Puss and Pup. I wish my kids had had these readers! . . . . . . . . . . . . #picturebookillustration #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookillustrator #illus
The Illustration Station and CYA Conference Award 2021 opens today! With final judges from Scholastic Australia. The Theme is JOY. For details check out the competition page on our website https://www.theillustrationstation.com/illustration-comp