Anita Jeram

Here at the gallery we have the collectors' edition illustrations by Anita Jeram from Sam McBratney’s enchanting bedtime story ‘Guess how much I love you’, an international classic which has been translated into over 27 languages. First published in 1994, the story and illustrations have captivated adults and children the world over.

Born in 1965 and growing up in Portsmouth, Anita had always loved drawing animals, however this was not something she considered pursuing until her husband upon discovering a particularly beautiful drawing of a kitten urged her to take her talent more seriously.  Living in Manchester, she decided to apply to join an Art and Illustration course at Manchester Polytechnic.  Her tutor David Hughes, an illustrator, took the promising work of his pupil to Walker Books who shortly afterwards offered her a contract.  Her first book, Bill’s Belly Button, was published in 1991 a year after she graduated. 

This was the beginning of a very successful career for Anita and she has since written and illustrated her own books as well as worked with other children’s authors.