Published on 28 April 2011; updated on 12 May 2011

James Mayhew: Authors Live

Explore art with James Mayhew and the Katie stories

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Authors Live - Michael Morpurgo - Full session

Michael Morpurgo talks about writing and tells some stories to school children. Recorded live at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. Michael Rosen talks about writing being his best friend and performs his poem The Space. Michael Rosen tells the story about his dad's sayings and how his brother would mimic and exaggerate them, including 'the Noise!'

About James Mayhew

James Mayhew created his first Katie book, Katie's Picture Show, over twenty years ago. It was a way to share his enthusiasm for art with children. It worked and his series of Katie books are now much-loved and respected as an early introduction to art. Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty was James's first title featuring the adorable Ella Bella, and has been illustrated using a delightfully retro art style. James has also had an exhibition in the National Gallery of Scotland in 2009. James lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and son.

Questions

After the live session we managed to get James to answer these questions too:

Which famous person in history would you most like to have met and why?

There are so many! But if it was just one person... It would be Joseph Mallard William Turner. He's always been my favourite artist. I would love to have been able to watch him paint and understand how he created such incredible pictures.

When did you start drawing? When did you start writing?

I drew all the time from the time I could first hold a pencil! But I first drew for a real proper job in 1987. I wrote my first story around that time as well.

How long does it take you to do a picture and to write a story like Katie in Scotland?

Some pictures take a long time. Some of the big scenes in Katie in Scotland took a week to finish! Smaller pictures take much less time though. The story for Katie in Scotland took longer to write than usual. It was a hard story to get right because there were so many things I wanted to include in the book. It took about three months.

What was the first book you illustrated, and what was it called?

My very first book was Katie's Picture Show, published in 1989.

What made you want to be an artist?

I've always liked pictures. I enjoy making pictures and looking at art by other people. I never wanted to be anything else! I love being able to create a world that people can look at and imagine things about. I love sharing that vision with children.

How did you come up with the ideas for your books?

Lots of ways! Childhood memories are very important, and working in schools with children helps with ideas as well. The idea for Katie came from my sister, and from my love of pictures and art. Boy was inspired by my son. Ideas are funny things. Sometimes they just pop into your head and you just don't really know where they came from!

How many books have you written?

About 25 I think. I've lost count! But I've illustrated about 45 books as well!

How hard did you have to work to get a first class honours in art?

Very hard! It was a three year course. I didn't do very well in the first two years. I couldn't decide what sort of artist to be. But then I was very strict with myself and worked REALLY hard in the final year. My tutors were extremely impressed with that!

Who did you look up to when you started art?

Lots of other writers who were also artists inspired me. People like Tove Jansson, Maurice Sendak, John Burningham.

Partners

Authors Live is produced in association with the Scottish Book Trust, Creative Scotland and Glow. The Scottish Book Trust is the leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing in Scotland and their Authors Live programme is funded by the National Lottery through the Creative Scotland's Inspiring Communities Fund. The Authors Live webcasts are also available through Glow - the world's first national intranet for education allowing joined-up working the length and breadth of Scotland.