Vaughan Duck

Vaughan Duck – Designer

Children's Book Illustrator with trade and educational publishing experience. Quirky style perfect for fun picture books and chapter books.

Overview

Please note: I would love to work on every single project, but it takes on average 4 months to illustrate a picture book, so places are limited.


I am happy to quote on projects, but won't be available to start new projects until JUNE 2025. (No AI)


With over 25 years of experience illustrating books, I have built up a varied folio of work that can be adapted to suit any type of project. Published work includes picture books, chapter books, textbooks, craft books, and non-fiction titles. My passion is developing quality products for children. I live and work in Australia, but have clients in the UK, US, and China. I would love to work with you.


Two books I completed through Reedsy collaborations have been picked up by The Barbara Bush Literary Foundation to be distributed to underprivileged schools in Texas. 'The Day I Had a Bulldozer' and 'The Day I Had a Dinosaur.'


I love what I do, drawing pictures to delight children. Let me bring your story to life.


I started strong, being short-listed for the Lothian Centenary Children's Picture Book Award (AUS). Since then I have contributed cartoons and illustrations to over 300 book projects.


Did I mention I love what I do?


If you have a story that needs illustrating, contact me for a quote and a chat over a virtual coffee! I will give honest feedback if I don't think the story is ready and I will only work on manuscripts I connect with.


I have a fresh marketable style and a professional attitude with heaps of experience developing projects for commercial success.


It's your text, but teaming up with the right illustrator can lift the marketability of the book to a new level.


Sparkling text + Stunning pictures = Awesome Picture book.


I look forward to working with you soon,


Vaughan

Services
Fiction
Humor & Comedy Middle Grade Picture Books
Languages
English
Awards
  • Short-listed for Lothian Centenary Children's Book Award
Certifications
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 1990 — Present
I work as a freelance illustrator for a number of publishing companies. My work includes picture books, chapter books, text books, craft books and non-fiction books for children. I have worked on over 350 titles.

Portfolio

The Day I Had a Fire Truck

Wall, Ashley

Mamabear Books

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Whiskers in the Wild: The Luckiest Cat on Earth (The Clever Cat Chronicles)

Keefe, Maggie

Maggie Keefe

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Day I Had a Dinosaur

Wall, Ashley

MamaBear Books

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Freckles' Best Ribbit: A funny children's book about a determined, little frog who cannot get his 'ribbit' out.

Rotter, Lori

LFR Creative, LLC

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Even George: An uplifting story about a teacher engaging creatively with students

Cockburn, Carolyn

GunBoot Consulting

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Banjo Pickin' Karate Kickin' Crime Fightin' Grandmas

Knudson, Mike

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Day I Had a Bulldozer

Ashley Wall

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Trouble's Tale: A story of family, friendship and a very clever cat (The Clever Cat Chronicles)

Keefe, Maggie

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Big Beach BBQ

Taylor, Carly

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Facing the Wave

Cover Design Illustration Typography
Made with Reedsy
Laugh Lines: A Collection of Silly Poems for Silly Seniors

Keefe, Maggie

Maggie Keefe

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
When I Grow Up: A Coloring Book to Inspire Girls to Dream Big

Duck, Vaughan

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Best Dinosaur Ever: Funny children’s book about a little boy’s big imagination for wanting to be his own kind of dinosaur

Rotter, Lori

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Ocean is just Monster Soup

Lefevre, Kent A

Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Hilltop: Is Finding Truth Really Worth the Climb?

Ma-one, Fortune

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Off to School in my Wheelie Chair

McIver, Charlene

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Mute...Unmute...Oh Shoot: The rollercoaster ride of remote learning (Rides of Remote Learning)

Taleja, Neha

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Day Dreaming: A Collection of Silly Poems for Silly Kids

Keefe, Ms. Maggie

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
No Quit!

Lorek, Craig

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Pretty Pages

Rachman, Amit

Cover Design Illustration Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
One Little Voice: Silly Poems for Silly Kids

Keefe, Maggie

Cover Design Typography Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Neotinoto: Go, Go, Go! (A book about problem solving, and not giving up)

Schmidt-Williams, Coleen

Book Interior Design
My Mindfulness & Well-being Journal

Mercieca, Yale

Cover Design Illustration
Stuck in the Ditch (Rigby PM Benchmark Collection Level 9)

Annette Smith

Illustration
Puberty Book

Wendy Darvill

In straightforward yet humorous language, Wendy Darvill and Kelsey Powell discuss the changes that happen at puberty. This book is a guide for children and teenagers, full of up-to-date inform... read more
Illustration

Vaughan has 19 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Cheryl K.

Cheryl K.

May, 2025

I could not have asked for a better experience in having my first book illustrated by Vaughan Duck. Not only did he capture the vision I had for the book, but he exceeded my expectations. He also had great suggestions along the way. He was patient, kind and flexible. His illustrations were beaut...
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Margaret K.

Margaret K.

Feb, 2025

This is my fifth book that Vaughan has illustrated and designed. His work is always top notch, I love his creativity and will continue to seek out his talents on future projects.
Vaughan D.
Who would have thought when we first collaborated that we would get to five books? Thank you for trusting me with you precious manuscripts.
Margaret K.

Margaret K.

Oct, 2024

Vaughan is the best. Always gets right back to me if I have questions. His illustrations are top notch. I could not have done this without him! I have self published 4 children’s books and cannot imagine anyone else doing the design and illustrations!
Vaughan D.
Your stories are always so much fun, I love working with you to bring them to life.
Phill S.

Phill S.

Aug, 2024

I would highly recommend Vaughan Duck to anyone looking for a talented picture book with a detailed, comedic and amusing style. His illustrations appeal to children and adults. Vaughan always communicated with me in a professional and timely fashion. He always asked for feedback and acted on my r...
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Vaughan D.
Thank you. It was a joy to bring your lovely story to life.
Lori R.

Lori R.

Jun, 2024

"Freckles' Best Ribbit" is the second book I have enjoyed working on with Vaughan. I couldn't be happier. The characters are adorable, and the attention to detail and humorous antics in the background really brings the story to life. Vaughan is a great partner not only in the illustration collab...
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Most recent contributions

Where do you go to for inspiration on illustration projects?

The manuscript serves as my primary source of inspiration. The characters, locations, and plot all influence the choices I make as an illustrator. A story filled with fun might suggest the use of bright colors, while a narrative centered on loss or grief may require soft, muted tones. If the sett...
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