Penny Neville-Lee

Children's Illustrator

Biography

Penny was raised on a healthy diet of Saturday cartoons and MGM musicals. Never happier than when creating, she spent her early years drawing and making and was rarely found without a doodle somewhere in the margins. Penny studied MA Painting at the Royal College of Art. After several years making large oil paintings of gloomy woods in the company of Radio 4 and some studio mice, she had her small son, shifted to the kitchen table and realised there might be something in those doodles after all. Penny is inspired by small people, bright colours, a blank page and newly sharpened pencils. She lives in Manchester with her two children, husband and very adventurous cat.

The Carousel Horse (Bloomsbury)

The Carousel Horse spends his days giving children rides at the fair. But secretly she dreams of something more . . .

When a beautiful, sparkling princess appears and helps her break free from her carousel, the two of them soar into the sky on a grand journey that takes them to the moon and back.
But where is home for the Carousel Horse? Discovering that might just be the greatest adventure of all.

With a lyrical rhyming text and stunning, luminous illustrations, this is a magical story about following your dreams and finding out where you belong – perfect for sharing at bedtime.

Available to buy

Publications

Selected Publications

Publication Details Notes
THE ICE CHILDREN 2024 Macmillan Children's Books

M. G. Leonard’s story of a brave girl and her reindeer friend, who try to save her brother, is the perfect cosy winter read. The Ice Children is an exciting, modern, magical mystery adventure by the author of Beetle BoyAdventures on Trains and the Twitchers series.

A sparkling, elegant homage to Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated in black and white throughout by Penny Neville-Lee.

At the stroke of midnight on the dawn of December, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen on a pedestal of ice. His heart is beating, he is smiling, but no one can wake him.

Finn’s big sister, Bianca, suspects that the tall mysterious stranger who first discovered Finn knows more than they will admit? Bianca’s quest to discover the truth and rescue her little brother hurls her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty, danger and irresistible spirit animals, where all is not as it seems.

Shortlisted for the Sheffield Children’s Book Award
Shortlisted for
 The Week Junior Awards

WISHYOUWAS 2022 Bloomsbury

Classic-feeling storytelling with bags of charm. Fans of thrilling animal adventure and enchanting underground worlds will fall in love with Wishyouwas.

It’s 1952 in smog-shrouded London. Christmas might be fast approaching, but with her mum away and Uncle Frank busy running the post office, Penny Black is lonelier than ever.

All that changes when Penny discovers a small, fluffy, funny, springy and – most importantly – talking creature in the post office one night, trying to make off with a letter.

But Wishyouwas is no thief. He’s a Sorter, and he soon introduces Penny to a fascinating secret world hidden in the tunnels underneath the city’s streets. Self-appointed guardians of lost mail, the Sorters have dedicated their lives to rescuing letters that have gone astray and making sure they get delivered to their rightful owners.

Penny is determined to protect the Sorters, but how long will she be able to keep them safe with Stanley Scrawl, the sinister Royal Mail Rat Catcher, on the prowl? Can Penny save the Sorters and deliver a joyful Christmas?

Penny Neville-Lee
Penny Neville-Lee
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