Jessica Meserve was born in the US and grew up there and in the UK. She graduated with both a BA and an MA in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art, and worked in publishing as a children's book designer before going freelance to pursue a career as an illustrator. Upon returning from a stint living in Vancouver, Jess completed the prestigious MA in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge, where she rediscovered her passion for observational drawing, painting, watercolour and pen and ink work. Jessica loves the challenge of drawing children and is always inspired by the personalities - and constant movement - of her two daughters. What Clara Saw is her debut title with Macmillan and involved many hours drawing at Whispsnade zoo, which is thankfully not far from Hertfordshire where Jessica lives with her husband, two daughters and a dog.