Catherine and Laurence Anholt are one of the world’s leading writer and illustrator teams. Together, they have created over sixty picture books including A Kiss Like This.
THE BASICS: CATHERINE
Born: London, 1958
Jobs: Nurse
Lives: Lyme Regis, Dorset
First Book: Truffles, 1983
THE BASICS: LAURENCE
Born: London, 1959
Jobs: Door-to-door encyclopædia salesman, tropical fish salesman, laboratory assistant, picture framer, sign writer, kitchen porter, cinema usher, joiner, art teacher
Lives: Lyme Regis, Dorset
First Book: Truffles, 1983
THE BOOKS
When Catherine and Laurence work together, he writes and she illustrates. Laurence has also written work for other artists, including Tony Ross, Arthur Robins, Martin Chatterton and Sheila Moxley. To make things even more confusing, Laurence also sometimes illustrates his own books!
Catherine grew up in the Cotswolds as part of a large Irish family - she was one of eight brothers and sisters! After a brief nursing career, Catherine found her true vocation as an artist. She took an Arts Foundation course in Banbury and then a Printmaking Degree at Falmouth School of Art. She met Laurence during her time at Falmouth. Catherine went on to take a Masters Degree at the Royal College of Art in London. Catherine has the unusual quality of total childhood recall – right back to being swaddled in a hairy blanket as a baby! Her work has been acclaimed as having a uniquely personal quality.
Laurence comes from a Dutch family and spent his early childhood in Holland, where he developed a lasting passion for Art – especially Van Gogh. His father had been an artist and his mother was an English teacher. He went to a co-educational Outward Bound school, leaving at 16 to take a three year Foundation Course at Epsom School of Art. Laurence claims to have a “butterfly mind” and is happiest working on several diverse projects at once; this might explain the rather confusing list of early careers (see above). Laurence studied painting for eight years and finished with a Masters Degree in Painting at The Royal Academy of Art in London. He taught Art at Swindon School of Art and residential Painting Courses at Adult Education Centres such as West Dean College and Missenden Abbey. Laurence has been described by William Watt as “one of the most versatile authors writing for children today.”
The Anholts live and work from a converted farmhouse overlooking the sea at Lyme Regis. Parts of the house are very old and it is reputedly haunted by an old lady who stirs a pot in the kitchen. Family life has always been the Anholts’ biggest influence and they get many ideas from their three young children, who road-test every book.
The Anholts’ work has been translated into around fifteen languages worldwide, including Chinese, Hebrew, Icelandic and Welsh!
Catherine and Laurence actively support many literacy and reading organisations and are especially passionate about libraries. In 1998, they were commissioned by the UK government to produce a booklet, Babies Love Books, for the Bookstart scheme.
WHAT LAURENCE SAYS…
“One of Cathy’s first books was called Good Days, Bad Days. I’ve always liked that title because it seems to sum up family life. For us, ideas, creative work, business and family life, all co-exist in a hectic jumble.”
“Our first books were made during rare quiet moments at the kitchen table. Now, Cathy and I have separate work rooms and she is at her drawing board almost every day, although we have many weeks in the year when we plan, dream-up and develop new projects together.”
“We love children’s books because it is one of the few places where words and pictures work side by side. Ideas can be elusive – sometimes the harder you try, the less likely they are to come, so once in a while, the best thing is a long walk by the sea. We have to be receptive and trust our intuition, but there is a lot of hard work too and deadlines have to be met.”
“There are many other sides to our business – we don’t have an agent; which means endless letter writing and discussions with publishers – some of our editors are almost part of the family now! There are unexpected avenues too – Braille and cassette editions, trips abroad and a couple of animation projects in progress. Throughout the year there are many wonderful book events and school and library visits; best of all are the piles of fantastic letters from kids all over the world.”
“Do we enjoy it? Yes, we love it; although the down side of working together is that it can be difficult to switch off. But, at four o’clock in the afternoon, the door bursts open and suddenly the most important thing in the world is homework, football practice, cleaning out the hamster, a bruised knee – that phone call to the publisher will just have to wait.”
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT CATHERINE & LAURENCE ANHOLT...
"A Kiss Like This wins favourite bedtime story, providing opportunities for blowing raspberries on your tiny tots tummy.” Times
“This is an adorable story about a father lion and his excessively kissable cub. It has softly shaded, amusing pictures and the storyline is repetitive so that young children can ‘read’ along. The book is beautifully presented and takes an everyday subject and turns it onto an unusual story with a cast of various friendly characters.” Baby on A Kiss Like This
“The repetition of the language is wonderful, and the book also lends itself to actions, as you kiss and cuddle your child behind her ears, on the end of her nose and on her tummy.” Junior on A Kiss Like This
AWARDS
Highly Commended for the Right Start Best Toy and Book Award 1997 for 3 Orchard Titles.
Shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award, The Nottingham Children’s Book Award, The Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ Children’s Book Award.
» Visit the Anholts website at www.anholt.co.uk.
