Leo Hartas – Designer

My work has been published in over a dozen countries. My books The Apartment Book and Haunted Castle are regarded as children's classics. I illustrated the two middle grade series Adventure Island and Sam Silver. I also worked on the Tweenies books for BBC Worldwide. I have worked for many children's magazines including Horrible Histories and Scoop. I also enjoy illustrating fantasy and illustrated the original Dragon Warriors RPG games and the Fighting Fantasy series of game books. I also specialise in creating illustrated maps for fiction and non-fiction.

My clients include, amongst many others: Dorling Kindersley, Random House, Fickling Books, Puffin Books, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Walker Books, Orion Children's Books, Templar, Tango Books, Ilex Press, Award Publications, Parragon, Harper Collins.

I worked in-house for a year at Walker Books which gave me an inside knowledge of how the traditional publishing industry works. More recently I have been working on a series of self-published books with my co-writer, Amanda Boulter, about the adventures of a Viking boy and his dog, Little Moose and Wolfie. We have also built a personalised children's book website where customers can personalise books online and have a unique beautifully printed book sent to them. These experiences have given me an understanding of the process of self-publishing from the initial concept through to design, production, publishing, advertising and marketing.

I am fluent in traditional media, digital art and desktop publishing. I was brought up on the South coast of England and now live in Tintagel in Cornwall, of King Arthur fame.

I find inspiration in exploring the beautiful coastline and secret coves. Occasionally I also enjoy dressing up as a Dark Ages warrior and running around a field in Devon. (LARPing)