Lara Hawthorne is a freelance illustrator based in Bristol. She studied illustration at Falmouth University, graduating in 2013. Lara illustrated Carol Ann Duffy's 2016 Christmas poem, The King of Christmas, published by Picador. Her first non-fiction book for children, The Night Flower, was published by Big Picture Press (Templar) in 2018. She has been shortlisted for several awards including AOI's WIA 2018, the Lowry's Children's Book Prize, the Bristol Pound competition and nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Award. She is influenced by natural history and loves to use pattern and humour in her work.