MAYHEW, James

1964 - ?

James John Mayhew born in Stamford, Lincolnshire in 1964, son of John Byrne Mayhew (1932-7 February 2015), a pilot in the Royal Air Force, and his wife Linda Georgina née Leighton (1939-), who married in Depwade, Norfolk in 1960 and James grew up in a tiny Suffolk village of Blundeston, near Lowestoft, famous as the birthplace of David Copperfield in the novel by Charles Dickens. James was educated as a founder pupil of the Benjamin Britten Academy of Music & Mathematics and later at the sixth form at Denes High School both in Lowestoft and studied at Lowestoft College of Art 1982-1984, and then at Maidstone College of Art, now the University for the Creative Arts, graduating with an honour's degree in 1987. James Mayhew is an award-winning children’s author, illustrator, and artist and has been creating books for over 30 years, with his first book, 'Katie’s Picture Show', was published in 1989 many titles include the classic best-selling Katie series, 'Ella Bella Ballerina', and the acclaimed 'Once Upon a Tune', inspired by the many musicians and symphony orchestras with whom he has collaborated. When he is not writing books, he is painting to music and has been presenting concerts for children for many years, creating art during performances of spectacular classical masterpieces. For over 20 years an illustration tutor at Cambridge School of Art, helping establish the UK's first master's in children's Book Illustration. A member of the Art Workers Guild and the Society of Authors and a former committee member of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group. After many years of using pen, ink, and wash, James started exploring printmaking and collage for both his book illustrations and for exhibition work. His complex images are carefully composed and considered from a variety of lino-cut plates, combined with painting and mono-printing. James Mayhew currently lives in Suffolk with his partner Antonio Reche-Martinez.

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Works by This Artist