I am an award-winning fine artist, writer and illustrator. I write picture books, poetry and junior fiction and create illustrations for the children's publishing industry. My skills include pencil and watercolour, pen and ink, pastel, acrylic and Chinese brush painting - my illustrations are whimsical, often have a dash of humour and always try to tell a story.
I love to discover the fascinating details in nature and find often overlooked surprises in everyday life. My main source of inspiration is the natural world (particularly God's creativity), but theatre, film, music and foreign cultures also feed my work. I have a background in the performing arts as a dancer and choreographer and am passionate about all things creative, whether it be a poem, a play or a picture.
I write and illustrate for The School Magazine and illustrate for Christmas Press, Little Pink Dog Books and ABC Commercial. I present as a writer/illustrator in primary schools, including for the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) and as a Role Model for Books in Homes Australia. For more information about me and my publishing industry experience, please visit the publishing and events pages of my website.
My writing and illustrating awards include CYA 2020 Conference Competition 3rd prize (Aspiring-2-Picture Book Primary School category), 2021 ASA/CA Mentorship Award and I was a finalist for the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards in 2021.
I'm a member of SCBWI, ASA, Writing NSW and Children's Book Council of Australia (Northern Sydney Sub-branch). My art can also be viewed at www.thestylefile.com, www.scbwi.org and my blog www.yvonnelowpictures.blogspot.com.au.
Testimonials
Yvonne has presented several times over the last 5 years to the students at St Kevin’s Dee Why. Yvonne is not only a wonderful illustrator, but proved her talent for story telling using her mouse puppets. The junior children loved her story. In another session, they were totally engaged in their attempt to create the best sea creature drawing. Yvonne gave simple yet explicit instructions and every child produced a fabulous underwater creature be it a dolphin, whale or man-eating shark. It was a fun filled hour that all the children remember quite clearly with many fond memories.
Kirsty O’Rourke (Teacher Librarian)
Yvonne Low attended our school and gave a wonderful presentation to our Stage Three students which she pitched at exactly the appropriate level. Yvonne took the students through the complex process involved in the production of the front cover and internal illustrations of a book. They learnt of the extensive research process, the experimentation with various ideas, the submission of alternatives and the final selection. Yvonne involved the students directly by having individuals dress in the costumes of the time and engaged them throughout with interactivity and participation. Our students and teachers were inspired and enlightened by this presentation and were desirous of much more time with this talented illustrator. They enthusiastically applied their new knowledge in subsequent lessons.
Student comments:
I enjoyed the dressing up and the details of Ms Low's drawings. Lara
I appreciated how Ms Low demonstrated the importance of colour selection in conveying the theme of the book. Zane
Rosalind Wallis (Teacher, Terrey Hills Public School)