Tadgh Bentley – Designer

I’m an Ohio-based children’s author and illustrator with eleven traditionally published books and a decade of experience working with publishers including HarperCollins, Scholastic, and Penguin. Over the past couple of years, I’ve also enjoyed collaborating with authors through Reedsy, helping bring their stories to life and developing a strong understanding of the self-publishing process. These collaborations include illustrating Scott Evan Davis’s Queen Bea, which won two first-place Purple Dragonfly awards—including Best Illustration—and a Mom’s Choice Gold Award.

I specialize in picture books, creating bold, vibrant illustrations full of character, humor, and warmth. As both a writer and an illustrator, I think about how words and pictures work together: how a page turn builds anticipation, how an expression reveals a character’s feelings, and how small visual details reward another read. I particularly enjoy developing memorable characters and imaginative worlds that children want to return to.

Working on someone else’s story is a collaboration I take seriously. I’ll begin by getting to know your manuscript, your audience, and your hopes for the book. From early character sketches and page compositions through to finished artwork, I share work as it develops, invite feedback, and explain the thinking behind my choices. My aim is for you to feel informed, involved, and excited throughout the process.

I work primarily digitally, with room to explore ideas and refine the artwork along the way. Alongside complete picture books, I welcome projects involving covers, standalone illustrations, and longer visual narratives.

If you think my work could be a good fit for your story, I’d love to hear about it!