Claude Martinot studied art and design in Paris before moving to New York. Prior to opening her own studio, she worked as an art director for advertising agencies and design studios. She developed her bold and playful style (and her love for children's themes) when the Bronx Zoo commissioned her to illustrate its Bird House. She went on to produce illustrations for signage and other Zoo exhibits, including the hugely successful Monarch butterfly maze. You'll see Martinot's work in a variety of industries; her client list includes Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, Klutz Press, Hallmark, Unicef, the Brooklyn botanic garden, the Bronx Zoo, New York Magazine, St John's University, Manhattan College, and the Multiple Sclerosis society.