Wayne Oram

Wayne Oram – Designer

Illustrating children’s picture books & Middle grade books. Cover design & book interior design. Breathing life into the static image. No AI

Overview

I have been illustrating for over 40 years, with experience spanning editorial, animation, games, and comics. For the last five years, my focus has been on children’s books, from playful picture books to richly illustrated chapter books. If you pick me as your illustrator, you get more than just artwork: you get a creative partner who can help shape characters, build worlds, and bring your story to life in a way that feels unique and memorable.

I do not use AI in any way. I have accepted that it will replace me in a few years so please don't ask me to do it.

I work in both traditional and digital media, often starting with loose, expressive ink sketches before refining into vibrant, polished illustrations. Clients tell me I’m easy to collaborate with — responsive, reliable, and enthusiastic about turning their vision into something special. Whether you’re self-publishing your first story or adding to an existing series, I’ll deliver artwork that dances around your text.

But don’t take my word for it see my testimonials in my gallery.

Services
Fiction
Middle Grade Picture Books
Languages
English

Work experience

Self-employed

Jul, 1985 — Present
I breathe life into full colour picture books and depth into Middle Grade Chapter Books.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Big, Hairy and Kind of Scary: A Monster-Sized Tale of Loss and Love

Cioffi, Michael Raymond

Drops of Joy Publishing

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Three Chilly Sheep

Shibley, Kathleen P

Grand Ideas LLC

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Searching for Ooh

Austen Hempstead

Final Chapter Publishing

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Emilia in the Media

BellyMae, Aunt

Aunt BellyMae Productions

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Pumpkin's Fairytale

Tracy Curran

Final Chapter Publishing

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Ponder, the frog

Hackett, Martha

Miriam Laundry Publishing

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design

Wayne has 6 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Cat R.

Cat R.

Apr, 2026

Pinned
This is my first time writing a book and I am SO glad I chose Wayne to illustrate the picture book. He is AMAZING! #1 - I love his art. He really brings the story to life in ways I wouldn't have ever thought of. Also, I noticed that while a lot of the other illustrators had lovely drawings, b...
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Wayne O.
Thank you so much Cat! You made my day. I’m so thrilled that you’re happy with your book and I wish you all the very best with it. And if Burry and Digla have a new chapter, you know where I am :)
Michael C.

Michael C.

Mar, 2026

Pinned
I couldn't have asked for a better creative partner than Wayne Oram. Realizing this was my first children's book, Wayne was exceptionally patient with me throughout this journey. What's more, he shared valuable insights along the way that brought out the best in my writing. When it comes to il...
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Wayne O.
Thank you Michael. It was a pleasure to have been part of your journey.
Megan V.

Megan V.

May, 2026

This was my 2nd time working with Wayne and he didn't disappoint! He understood my vision, was quick and responsive, and an all around great partner to work with.
Wayne O.
Again, thank you Megan. It has been a pleasure to help flesh out your ideas. Looking forward to working together again.
Megan V.

Megan V.

May, 2026

Wayne was a delight to work with. This was my first go-round with putting together a book and he was so patient with all my questions. The end result is better than I could have ever anticipated. Wayne is very responsive in his communication and very responsive to feedback as we worked to alig...
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Wayne O.
Thank you Megan. I’m so pleased you’re happy with everything and I wish you all the best with your spotty pups! :)
Beth R.

Beth R.

Dec, 2025

Working with Wayne Oram has been exceptional. As a first-time author he was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. He is an excellent collaborator giving and receiving information then applies it quickly to the project. His artwork brought the depth, emotion, and whim...
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Most recent contributions

How many rounds of revisions do you include in your initial offer?

Creating a picture book is a very fluid process and develops naturally over time. I am very giving when it comes to revisions. As far as I’m concerned I’m not done until my client is happy. Obviously, at some point you have to give your book to the world which requires you to say “We’re done” :)
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What considerations do you prioritize when choosing fonts for book covers versus interiors?

For me I normally keep internal fonts very simple, system fonts. Font licensing can be very confusing. You don’t want to fall foul of that should your book get traction. For the cover I tend to treat the title as part of the overall cover illustration. So more often than not I will hand letter ...
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