I'm a Japanese artist, children's book author and illustrator. I'm a Japanese artist, children's book author and illustrator. I write and illustrate picture books about a pair of socks. Bocchi and Pocchi: A Tale of Two Socks is my first picture book. The inspiration for the story came from my childhood as I would watch my grandma regularly darning socks and wondering what might happen to them. Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird and Bocchi and Pocchi's Big Surprise are the sequels. I am going to continue with this series as there are so many adventures these woolly socks could have together!
For more info about my books, visit:
While I illustrate my books with coloured pencils, I currently practice paper collage called ‘Chigiri-e.’ Chigiri-e is a traditional Japanese art form in which pictures are created from hand-torn Japanese paper called washi. Instead of traditional washi I use newspaper, which adds a contemporary dimension to the work and creates a unique contrast between subject (they are often inspired by the natural world) and materials.
For more info about my Chigiri-e, visit:
Before becoming an artist, I taught Japanese in Lebanon, Canada and the UK. As a consequence of all that travel, I decided to follow my passion, and study visual arts at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada and completed an MA in Fine Art at Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design in the UK.
I currently live in Consett, County Durham with my husband and two children.
