Sam Zuppardi

I used to draw cartoons at school when I was supposed to be doing work. Since then I've had a number of different jobs, including working in a book warehouse, as a student (twice), as a nursery worker (twice), a bookshop assistant, a toyshop assistant and a care worker (also twice). At the moment I'm working with children and I'm also a student (again). I still draw cartoons. I've always liked drawing and making stories and have cleared space for makeshift studios in a number of rooms over the years. Mostly I draw where ever there is space. I live in York, England with my partner Jade. When making pictures I work mostly in acrylic, watercolour, pencil, ink, and collage. I like to create pictures that look a little homemade and write stories that deal with the kinds of things that preoccupy you when you're little. My first picture book, The Nowhere Box, was inspired by a childhood love of hide-and-seek. I was trying to imagine the best hiding place ever and 'Nowhere' seemed perfect. I am also working on a second picture book called Nobody's Perfect, which is written by David Elliott and features a very noisy little sister. Three Things You May Not Know About Me: 1.When I was little I had a cat, two hamsters, four gerbils and lots of fish. Where I live now we are not allowed pets so I just have a potted plant. 2.I used to sleepwalk quite regularly but have settled down lately. Now I just talk in my sleep every so often. 3.I asked Jade to marry me in the acknowledgements section of one of my books - luckily she said 'yes!'