Phoebe Morris

Phoebe Morris – Designer

Award-winning picture book illustrator from New Zealand, now in the USA. Past clients include Penguin Books and Allen & Unwin.

Overview

Hello! I'm Phoebe (she/her), a freelance creative best known for my award-winning picture book illustrations. Originally from New Zealand, I am now based in Los Angeles, California.


I illustrate full-length picture books for ages 3+, book covers, and chapter books for YA adult readers. I have experience in content that deals with difficult subject matter and emotions (Cleo & Rob 2019), as well as stories with a biographical or educational element (Taking the Lead 2020, Dinosaur Hunter 2019), and stories for young readers (The Adventures of Mittens 2021). I come from a family of scientists (botany, marine biology, psychology) and love to draw anything relating to animals, nature, and science.


I have a Bachelor of Design with First Class Honours in Visual Communication, majoring in Illustration. Notable past projects include illustrating for NY Times best-selling author Helen Brown, and the picture-book biography of the New Zealand Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern.


"I'm impressed to the point of oxygen debt with Phoebe's work. I know that Penguin NZ are as well; I've never heard a publisher squeak with excitement so much" — David Hill, Author, (MNZM)


“Her work for Cleo and Rob surpassed all expectations with its emotional depth and vibrant story telling." — Helen Brown, New York Times Best Selling author of 'Cleo'


"Bark, bark bark, grr bark bark bark" - Boris Morris, family poodle

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Children’s Non-Fiction Education & Reference Nature
Fiction
Children's Short Story Social & Family Issues
Languages
English
Awards
  • First Class Honours Massey University 2013
  • Finalist Student Category, NZ Best Awards 2014
  • Awarded Notable Book, Non-fiction category, Storylines Notable Book Award 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
  • Winner Children's Choice category, NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2016
  • Finalist Elsie Locke Non-Fiction category, NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults, 2018
  • Finalist Russel Clarke Award for Illustration category, NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults, 2018
  • Highly Commended Best Children’s Book category, NZ Booklover’s Award 2019
Certifications
  • BDes (Hons) Visual Communication Design, Massey University, New Zealand

Work experience

Self-employed

Mar, 2014 — Present

Since 2014 I have worked on illustrating a number of children's books for Penguin NZ.

This process involves collaborating with both author and editor. My role includes developing a full storyboard and text layout to accompany the written text, suggestions for pagination and pacing, submitting an initial scale draft for feedback, and rendering the final illustrations.

Projects include a series of biographical picture books about famous New Zealanders written by acclaimed kiwi author David Hill, a number of portraits for 'Go Girl', and a series of covers and internal spot illustrations for the 'Frankie Potts' series.

Portfolio

Taking the Lead: How Jacinda Ardern Wowed the World (David Hill Kiwi Legends)

Hill, D.

Frankie Potts and the Bikini Burglar

Juliet J.

Book 2 in Juliet Jacka's addictive new Frankie Potts series for readers ages 7-10.Meet Frankie Potts, the village of Tring's number one girl detective. She has flaming red hair, a questioning mind and a very clever dog named Sparkplug. And she is REALLY good a... read more
Frankie Potts and the Wicked Wolves

Juliet J.

Book 4 in Juliet Jacka's addictive new Frankie Potts series for readers ages 7-10.Meet Frankie Potts, the village of Tring's number one girl detective. She has flaming red hair, a questioning mind and a very clever dog named Sparkplug. And she is REALLY good a... read more
Frankie Potts and the Sparkplug Mysteries

Juliet J.

Book 1 in Juliet Jacka's addictive new Frankie Potts series for readers ages 7-10.Meet Frankie Potts, the village of Tring's number one girl detective. She has flaming red hair, a questioning mind and an addiction to gobstoppers. And she is REALLY good at solv... read more
Frankie Potts and the Postcard Puzzle

Juliet J.

Book 3 in Juliet Jacka's addictive new Frankie Potts series for readers ages 7-10.Meet Frankie Potts, the village of Tring's number one girl detective. She has flaming red hair, a questioning mind and a very clever dog named Sparkplug. And she is REALLY good a... read more
Go Girl: A Storybook of Epic NZ Women

First to the Top: Sir Edmund Hillary's Amazing Everest Adventure

David H.

Up on the world's highest mountain, the sky is tinged the black color of space and the air is almost too thin to breathe. How did Ed, a small, shy boy from a tiny New Zealand town, grow up to become the world's most famous mountaineer and adventurer? How did h... read more
Hero of the Sea: Sir Peter Blake's Mighty Ocean Quests (David Hill Kiwi Legends)

David H.

A stunning biographical picture book for young readers about Sir Peter Blake, world renowned New Zealand yachtsman, adventurer and environmentalist "Remember" he wrote, "this is the most beautiful world, and it's the only only one we've got". Sir Peter Blake's... read more
Sky High: Jean Batten's Incredible Flying Adventures

David H.

In 1934, Jean Batten set a world record for the fastest flight from England to Australia. Just two years later, she made the first-ever solo flight from England to New Zealand. Jean's fearless determination and flying skills helped her survive storms and crash... read more
Lost Wonders

Sarah E.

The stories of these fascinating creatures - birds, insects, reptiles and plants - are told in an entertaining and accessible style, drawing on first-hand accounts and supported with useful illustrations. It draws on accounts of their demise, and of the social... read more
Cleo and Rob

Helen B.

A kitten called Cleo steps into six-year-old Rob's life after his big brother, Sam, dies.Based on true events in author Helen Brown's family, this heartwarming story first appeared as a world-wide bestselling book for adults, Cleo.