Olivia Hope is an Irish writer with a special love for children’s fiction. A former record-breaking athlete, she competed internationally representing Ireland. With twenty years’ experience teaching children, she has worked with all ages in the creative arts; as a creative associate with the Irish Arts Council on the Creative Schools programme, and as a creative learning assistant with Siamsa Tíre (the National Folk theatre of Ireland). The first of her picture books to be published by Bloomsbury is Be Wild, Little One (illustrated by Daniel Egnéus), Described as an ‘outstanding book to enchant readers of all ages’ by Shirley Hughes. She currently lives in the wilds of Southwest Ireland with her family.

From an early age Fiona knew that she wanted to earn her living drawing. Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art she has been working freelance in London on animated films, commercials, animation artwork for West End shows and illustration work.

She explores a variety of subject matter through self-initiated and commercial work, deriving inspiration from new places, brilliant people, bold patterns, structures and subtle details in everyday life. All the projects she works on have a paper based handmade origin.

She likes to work with a combination of pencil, paint, charcoal, children's blow pens, cutting stencils and experimenting with print techniques whilst dreaming up new characters and stories.