Jason Cockcroft was born in New Zealand, and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He graduated from Falmouth School of Art. He is the illustrator and author of over forty books for children, and he illustrated covers for the last three books in the Harry Potter series.

Jason has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway award and he won the inaugural Blue Peter Book Award. He is also an accomplished watercolour artist and portrait painter.

When he's not drawing and painting, he's usually drinking tea and staring out of the window at nothing in particular. He's very happy to live in a beautiful city that sounds like church bells, smells like chocolate and is invaded by Vikings all year round.