David O'Connell
David O’Connell is a writer and illustrator living in Brighton on the south coast of England. He works mostly in children’s books, particularly humorous picture books and young fiction. His best known books are The Naughtiest Unicorn series, the best-selling How to Grow Up and Feel Amazing (both as illustrator) and The Chocolate Factory Ghost (as writer).
Although he wrote and drew his own stories from a young age, he studied science at A-level, then gained a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol. After a period of work, he returned to academic life, working towards a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge. This was followed by a managerial role in the IT department of the John Lewis Partnership.
His desire to write and draw professionally stayed with him, and to that end he signed with United Agents in 2008, thanks to the recommendation of his friend Sarah McIntyre with whom he collaborated on the picture book, Jampires. They also worked together on a Picture Book Writing & Illustrating course, available from Curtis Brown Creative.
His first published book was Monster & Chips, the start of a series of funny (and revolting) adventures of ‘hooman’ Joe Shoe whilst working at the Monster Diner of friendly monster Fuzzby Bixington.
He has since illustrated a number of fiction and non-fiction book series for a variety of publishers, as well as writing his own children’s fiction books and picture books.
Although he wrote and drew his own stories from a young age, he studied science at A-level, then gained a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol. After a period of work, he returned to academic life, working towards a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge. This was followed by a managerial role in the IT department of the John Lewis Partnership.
His desire to write and draw professionally stayed with him, and to that end he signed with United Agents in 2008, thanks to the recommendation of his friend Sarah McIntyre with whom he collaborated on the picture book, Jampires. They also worked together on a Picture Book Writing & Illustrating course, available from Curtis Brown Creative.
His first published book was Monster & Chips, the start of a series of funny (and revolting) adventures of ‘hooman’ Joe Shoe whilst working at the Monster Diner of friendly monster Fuzzby Bixington.
He has since illustrated a number of fiction and non-fiction book series for a variety of publishers, as well as writing his own children’s fiction books and picture books.
