Natalie Hinrichsen was born in 1974 in Cape Town and still lives there now. She studied Graphic Design at the Cape Town University of Technology. Natalie specialises in children’s illustration. To get inspired, she looks at other children’s books particularly “Lavender’s Blue” illustrated by Harold Jones which she has had since she was about ten. She would describe her style as classic storybook. She works in gouache and watercolours. In 2005 she won the Vivian Wilkes award for a book about taking care of the environment called “Tell the Moon”. She does not have a favourite piece, but she always looks forward to what’s coming next.

When Natalie is not working she enjoys walking, reading and browsing second hand shops.

If she was not an illustrator she would be a music teacher, she taught privately for a while before illustration work took up more of her time. While she works she likes to listen to audio books and music, mostly Stephen Sondheim musicals.

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