JILL DOW

SATURDAY 16th JUNE at 3.30

For children in P5 to P7

 

As well as reading a story, Jill will use examples of her own work to explain in greater detail the process of producing a book, from scribbles on the back of an envelope through to the finished product on the bookshelf.

 

SUNDAY 17th JUNE at 12.00

For children in P1 to P4

 

Jill will tell stories, give a very brief introduction to the world of the author and illustrator, and provide a simple art workshop.

 

 

 

Jill spent her childhood in a small village in Perthshire, and apart from several years in Glasgow and London, has lived all her life in the countryside. These rural surroundings have had a huge influence on her creative work.

As a child, Jill loved to read and write stories and poems, but her favourite pastimes were drawing, painting and making all sorts of things from cloth, wool and any old junk found lying around. She went on to study printmaking at Glasgow School of Art and then the Royal College of Art in London, where she developed a special interest in natural history illustration, combining her passion for plants, animals and wild places with her love of drawing. After a few years working as an illustrator, Jill decided to try writing as well, and Windy Edge Farm was born! Eight books about the animals of Windy Edge Farm were published between 1989 and 1996, a period in which Jill also gave birth to her three children, and moved back to Scotland, where she and her husband settled in Thornhill, near Stirling.

Jill’s passion for the natural world, particularly for plants, gardens and the wildlife that inhabits them, continues to inspire her. This is where her stories come from; none of them are exactly true, but there is a lot of reality in them, mixed up with a large pinch of imagination, and hopefully, a little humour.

Since 1993, when she first became involved with the Writers in Scotland Scheme, (now Live Literature Scotland), Jill has travelled round a good part of mainland Scotland, visiting  schools and libraries, telling her stories, explaining how she plans, writes and designs her books, and involving the children in art activities. But she has never been asked to visit an island before, or indeed a book festival! As a great island lover – Jill’s family have spent almost all of their holidays on Hebridean islands- she is delighted to have been invited to take part in the Port Ellen Book Festival and looks forward to re-visiting Islay after a gap of some 25 years. She is also a keen member of her local reading group and will enjoy meeting the award winning readers of Port Ellen.

 

BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY JILL DOW

Songbird Story by Michael Rosen Published by Francis Lincoln.

 

BOOKS WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JILL DOW

WINDY EDGE FARM SERIES. Published by Frances Lincoln.

Bridget’s Secret

Molly’s Supper

Webster’s Walk

Hepzibah’s Woolly Fleece

Maggie’s Holiday

Hazel and Clover’s Great Escape

Piggy Little’s Hide and Seek

Moonbeam’s Big Splash