Catherine Rayner

Catherine Rayner lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. She works from home where her cat Ena sits on her desk all day and watches her draw. As well as Ena, she has a guinea pig called Marvin; a dog, Ellie; and a horse, Shannon. She is inspired by her pets and sometimes uses them as models. Catherine sometimes feels as though she might go mad if she doesn't draw: 'When I think of an idea I have to sketch it instantly before the bubble bursts!' The characters themsleves provide the ideas for her stories: 'I tend to design a character first, creating a personality, this then often leads to a story. I try to depict an animal in a way which doesn't take away too many of its natural characteristics.'