I was born and raised on the lower mainland and now call Vancouver Island my home.  A lifelong lover of the arts, I began drawing as a young child and continue to hone my skills as an artist and illustrator with ongoing practice and study. Graduating from Vancouver Film school and working in the film and television industry for over fifteen years as a visual effects compositor has given me a unique eye for light, colour and composition in my traditional artwork.

I have always loved fairy tales and am passionate about my work as an illustrator for children's books. After creating a series of original watercolour paintings inspired by classic fairy tales for a local art show, I was contacted by children’s book author, Elizabeth Lorayne to create the illustrations for her first award-winning children’s book The Adventures of Piratess Tilly - The Galapagos (White Wave Press, 2015).  More recently, we collaborated on the second award-winning book in the series The Adventures of Piratess Tilly – Easter Island (White Wave Press, 2017).

I hope to continue collaborating with children’s book authors and publishers – the perfect way to combine my love for bringing magic and beauty into the world with inspiring  young, curious minds to read.

​

​

Email: karen@karenwatson.com

Website: karenwatson.com