Kate Pankhurst is a British writer and illustrator, known for a series of children's picture books. She won second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.
Kate Pankhurst | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Writer and illustrator |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Central Lancashire |
| Genre | Picture books |
| Website | |
| www | |
Early life
editKate Pankhurst was raised in Liverpool, England.[1] She later credited an independent bookshop that she passed on the way to school as introducing her to books.[2] Pankhurst was inspired by an issue of British comic The Beano to create her own comic, and after selling copies to her school friends, decided that she wanted to work in illustration when she grew older. Initially she sought to become a shoe designer, but while undertaking Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at the University of Central Lancashire in illustration, she realised that she could work as a children's book illustrator.[3]
Career
editAfter winning second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration,[3] she began working on the Mariella Mystery Investigates series. This was the published work which Pankhurst both wrote and illustrated. The series was acquired by Plum Pudding Illustration.[4] She subsequently published through Bloomsbury.[2]
Her first non-fiction work Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World led Pankhurst to discover that she was distantly related to suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, whom she featured in the book. Although she thought for a period that there was no connection, another family member confirmed the link through her paternal line. Pankhurst said that she had enjoyed promoting lesser known stories of women in the book, such as Gertrude Ederle and her crossing of the English Channel.[1] As part of promoting the book, she spoke at schools and talked of her writing process,[5][6] as well as appearing at the WayWord festival in Chester.[7] A follow-up book is due to be published in February 2018.[2]
In 2021 it was announced a new musical based on the book will be opening in Southampton in November. The show includes songs by songwriter Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo and a book by Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky's Edge) and follows Jade who decides to leave class to meet some of the most iconic women from history such as Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and, of course, Emmeline Pankhurst.[8][9] The show's UK tour started in 2021 and continued until 2023.[10]
In addition to working as an illustrator, Pankhurst also works with teachers and children to share and inspire a love for reading and the stories of notable women.[11]
Personal life
editPankhurst lives in Leeds with her family, and creates her books in a studio located in a former spinning mill.[12] She has a dalmatian named Olive.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Illustrator draws inspiration from women who changed the world". Yorkshire Post. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ a b c Wood, Heloise (14 June 2017). "Bloomsbury illustrators open up their sketchbooks". The Bookseller. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ a b c "About". Kate Pankhurst.com. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ Williams, Charlotte (17 July 2012). "Orion Children's acquires Pankhurst series". The Bookseller. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Descendent of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurt visits Castle Newnham School". Bedfordshire on Sunday. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Pupils Hear Story From Descendent of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst". Bedford Today. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 May 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "WayWord festival returns for February half term". Chester Chronicle. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "New musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World to premiere this autumn". 19 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Cast for Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World musical world premiere announced". 15 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World to return for new tour". 3 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "About" Kate Pankhurst.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Kate Pankhurst"Pan Macmillan.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
