I am an artist and author/illustrator.
ART
I became interested in oil painting in 2021 while lucky enough to attend the Art Students League of New York. I have benefitted from attending classes at the Art Students League, Sunningwell School of Art, and Heatherleys. I love to paint portraits, but also enjoy painting flowers, still lifes, and landscapes. In the last two years my paintings have been accepted for the Oxford Art Society’s annual show. I participated in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2026.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
I worked on my first book, The Dawn Chorus while doing the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. It was published by Bloomsbury and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award and chosen by BookTrust as a Bookstart book in 2015. You can hear Eve Myles read it beautifully here. Since then, I have written and illustrated three other books with Bloomsbury: Robin’s Winter Song, which was nominated for the Greenaway Medal in 2017, and you can hear the amazing Idina Menzel read it on CBeebies here; The Butterfly Dance and The TinyWing Fairies. I have illustrated two books: A Guide to Sisters written by Paula Metcalf, and We are a Garden written by Louise Greig for Egmont.
In my illustration, I use a mix of media, including collage, and am happiest using color and pattern.
Im going to buy it for my nephews and neices love Philippa. Well done Suzanne
Thanks so much Philippa! x
Congratulations! I finally have my copy so will write a review shortly! It was lovely to meet you last week at Bloomsbury’s ‘Evening Of Illustration’…
Thank you very much, it was lovely to meet you too. I hope you enjoy the book!
Just wanted to thank you for the mesmerising story about the nightingale – I enjoyed reading it as much as my child,or even more! Your illustrations are exceptional! =)
Thank you very much, so glad you liked it!
My Daughter and Son were given some of your books for Christmas and we just love them. Your illustrations are just so beautiful and really bring the stories to life. Is there any way of buying some of them to print and frame on their bedroom walls? For example the owl in Robin’s song is just enchanting.
Thank you Harriet, I’m so pleased your children enjoyed my books! I have been meaning to have some prints made for a while now, but I’ve been distracted with other projects. I will let you know as soon as I have some ready. Thanks again.
The following comment is from a pupil at Heathfield Primary who wanted to contact you about your book, ‘The Dawn Chorus’.
“To Suzanne Barton,
I really love The Dawn Chorus because it comes with a fabulous song and birds. Even though I got this book from the school library, I enjoyed reading it to myself and my family. I really enjoy singing and I hope you enjoy it too
From Julia, aged 7”.
Julia showed great enthusiasm for your book and she took time out from her ‘Golden Time’ to sit with me and write this message. She looks forward to your reply.
Kind regards
Joseph Leivers
Dear Julia,
Thank you very much for writing to me. I am so happy that you enjoyed The Dawn Chorus, and that you read it to yourself and to your family! I love listening to the birds singing in the morning, and that gave me the idea for the story. I really enjoy singing too, although I am not very good at it. I think it would be lovely to sing in a choir, maybe you have one at your school?
I hope you keep on reading, and enjoying books. Maybe you can write and illustrate your own stories too one day?
Happy reading!
Suzanne