As one of the leading children's illustration agencies in the world, Plum Pudding is known for being one of the most dynamic, passionate and proactive agencies around, representing some of the most talented children's illustrators from across the globe.
Plum Pudding was built on the desire to give something back to the illustrators working in the children's publishing world, tocreate a home for artists who wanted to be represented by an agency that was not only hungry for and proactive in finding them the very bestopportunities and commissions the industry has to offer, but one that has a real empathy with what it is liketo be an illustrator in today's constantly changing publishing world. Plum Pudding is more than just an agency, we are an illustration community and the fantastic relationships that we have with all of our artists is testament to this. We believe that as an artist your agent should be an extension of yourself and provide support and guidance on every level, from artists just starting out and wanting advice, development and an introduction to the publishing world, to those who are supremely well established and simply need their business and promotional needs taken care of, leaving them free to do what they do best, illustrate! We represent a diverse range of artists and work with a vast array of clients from across the globe and as a children's illustration agency exclusively we have an intrinsic understanding of the children's publishing world and all of its markets. We are specialised in our approach therefore and we understand that these markets are ever changing, inclusive of the growth of digital publishing, and are constantly looking to adapt this approach and move with the times to deliver, and meet both our clients' and artists' needs. Plum Pudding is an agency built on passion and relationships: we treat clients and artists like the business partners that they are, but fueled by our inherent love of children's illustration we go above and beyond to become more than that.
'Plum Pudding has a passion and a diversity. At last! A fresh and instinctive approach to illustration. For input alone, the best agency I've worked with in some time.'
-Clare Cartey, Hodder Children's Books
Mark has lost his hair over the past twenty years. Ironically, this coincides with his career in children's publishing! As a 1980's art student Mark had a lot of hair, arguably too much hair! Post graduation as a Fashion and Furnishing Fabric Designer, (something reflected in his taste in flowery shirts), he worked in print and then shuffled sideways, and then further sideways, until finding his natural home in children's publishing. Having settled in children's books, he has been a designer at a variety of children's publishers, including Walker Books, Egmont and Orchard Books before becoming the Art Director at Meadowside and having the ceaseless delight of seeing wonderful artwork daily. Finally meglamania brought him to establishing Plum Pudding in his back bedroom. Within two years there were more people arriving for work at Plum Pudding in the morning, and the business had increased turnover tenfold. Privately he'll confess that he's a frustrated illustrator himself: "If I had the talent in these hands...'. For Mark, PP is more than an occupation, it's his world, and what makes it unique is the strength of the relationships he and the team have established with the clients they work with and the artists they represent. And that's really all he ever set out to do: meet wonderful people and be involved in making wonderful products for children. As Mark often tells his sons, the thing that has made Daddy happiest in his life, is the ability to read. And that remains his greatest pleasure: a cup of tea, a bit of quiet and a book for a while. Oh, and he wants an English Pointer dog!
Hannah studied Illustration and Animation at university and became represented by Plum Pudding as an artist shortly after. After a tasty internship at Little Tiger Press she realised that she had a penchant for the other side of the publishing desk and she started her career in publishing as Editorial Assistant at Book Guild Publishing, fulfilling her ceaseless desire to edit everything! It all miraculously came together when she was offered a position as Trainee Agent at Plum Pudding, and now she is the Associate Director here. Her favourite things about Plum Pudding are nailing that first cracker of a project for a new artist, the lasting friendships she has developed with artists through working so closely with them and pinging elastic bands across the office at Mark. As a published and working illustrator she has a real empathy with the artists here, though juggling her illustration projects in and around her PP life has turned her a little crazy over time! Crazy but pretty darn happy!
Andrea has worked in publishing ever since leaving university 15 years ago, starting out as a freelance illustrator, before becoming a designer at Walker Books and later, Art Director at Little Tiger Press. Now she is responsible for everything design here at Plum Pudding, including painting the office walls a very nice Farrow and Ball blue colour. She brings to Plum Pudding a wealth of invaluable experience having designed countless children's titles, from novelty, to picture books, to fiction. One of her favourite things about Plum Pudding is being able to work with such a vast array of different illustrators and with them on all their different styles. Outside of the office she is wonderful mum to Jacob and Milo, adores her pilates classes and can eat 10 Jaffa Cakes in 30 seconds!
Meet Chloe! After a degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art, Chloe joined us as an intern. She loved it so much here that she refused to leave and soon progressed to become our Marketing Assistant and then an Agent! Having her around is a dream!Diligent,extremely helpful and able to use her initiative, Chloe not only really helps Hannah take care of all of our artists, but is also responsible for responding to the vast array of submissions that we receive.Chloe finds something incredibly inspiring and comforting about children's books and she was instantly drawn to Plum Pudding's highly knowledgeable expertise, creative, passionate, driven and down to earth feel. What she loves about her role is getting to see a project from the beginning until the very end, constantly learning about the industry & being surrounded by a creative buzz of enthusiasm. Outside of PP Chloe loves the circus, sparkles, sequins, travel, dance, & lots of tea!
Purveyor of order, restorer of calm and queen of the double entry, our ninja Bookkeeper Max has been keeping us on the straight and narrow since early 2014. Mother of two grown up daughters, Max’s interests include fine arts, literature and tennis (watching, not playing, and with Roger Federer winning, preferably). Bringer-in of treats on a Friday, with Walnut Whips being a particular favourite. Kind, patient, steady, but strict on all matters money. Think Mother Theresa meets Attila the Hun.
Hello, my name’s Beth and I’m super excited to be an agent here at Plum Pudding. I’ve recently graduated from the University of Leeds where I studied Graphic and Communication Design and have a background in designing for kids! I have a massive sweet tooth and love baking and devouring all things chocolatey. I love all illustration and envy all our artists’ talents but particularly enjoy papercutting and collaging myself. In the age old debate of cats or dogs I will always argue that rabbits are underrated!
I'm Katie, and I'm thrilled to be the marketing assistant here at Plum Pudding! I studied Media Culture & Production at Solent University, and am a HUGE film and TV buff- from comedies to dramas to musicals, I love them all! Other than a good old movie night, my hobbies include going on walks by the sea with my camera. I've been doing photography for years and love taking nature and candid photos. I also love curling up with a good book: I really enjoy Greek mythology, and my favourite picture books as a child were Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulker and Jonathan Lambert, and Cuddly Dudley by Jez Alborough, which my Mum and Dad read to me almost every night!
Pip is the youngest member of the team and Plum Pudding's official 'Barketing Manager'! A mischievous pup with a heart of gold, when Pip's dad Mark brings her into the office she always brightens up our day. Her duties include giving lots of cuddles, playing with everyone in the office -she particularly enjoys tug and catch!- and chewing up all the scrap paper... she keeps us all in line with her sassy attitude though! Pip's hobbies include playing football with her brothers Milo and Jacob (she dribbles the ball around the office so well she could play for England!), going for long walks and exploring in the park, and cuddling in her bed with her snake and rabbit toys. Pip loves her Plum family and her Plum family love her!
Want to work for us? We offer an internship here at Plum Pudding, so if you are interested in getting a bit of work experience in the publishing world drop us an email at letterbox@plumpuddingillustration.com