Children's Book Illustrator and Designer

A group of happy, diverse and multiculteral children interact together. the text is for global rhymes.

Welcome to my website and online portfolio!

I'm Charity Russell, a freelance illustrator and designer with a passion for children's literature—

specialising in picture books, chapter books, cards, and activity books.

Diversity and inclusion are deeply important to me, and I strive to reflect that in all of my work.

I love bringing stories to life with warmth, imagination, and representation that children can see themselves in.

I hold a First-Class Master’s degree in Illustration and Design from the University of Sunderland (2012), and a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from Falmouth University College, Cornwall (2004). My creative process begins with traditional pencil and ink sketches in my sketchbook. I then digitally complete my illustrations, combining hand-drawn textures and personally crafted patterns with the original drawings.

Originally from Zambia, I moved to the UK as a teenager and now live near Bath, England

with my husband, our youngest of two children, and our little Pomchi dog, Frank.

I specialise in freelance work for both independent and commercial authors and publishers—

offering illustration as well as complete book design services, including formatting and typesetting.

I’ve also lectured in children's picture book design at the Bristol Folk House.

My clients have included HarperCollins, The Body Shop, Library For All, Our Little Worlds,

NoMeLoMe, Monarto Zoo, and many amazing independent authors.

I Can Do Hard Things by Gabi Garcia

Why Is My Piano Black and White? by Nathan Holder

Where Do Tantrums Come From? by Manika Kaur

A Wave Came through Our Window by Zetta Elliott (was awarded outstanding merit in Best Children's Books of 2016)

The Boogie by Aaron Thayer

It's Finders Keepers by Christopher Oyo

The Why Books by Nathan Holder

Turvy Has No Time by Anoush Fazal

Books I’ve written and illustrated:

Mummy's Got MS (inspired by my own MS journey)
Hattie Goes to the Moon

If you have a project in mind or would like a quote, feel free to reach out via my Contact Page

or email me directly at mail@charityrussell.com.

I can provide a full book design service—including cover design, layout, and formatting—

so you could have a finished book on the market in just a few weeks!