Kristy is an autistic illustrator, writer, and dancer. She grew up in rural and coastal Taranaki, New Zealand where she spent much of her time escaping to libraries to read, write, draw, and indulge in her imagination. After finishing high school with the award for Dux, she moved to Wellington and graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Design, but she is mainly self-taught in illustration. While there, she also attained a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from the Wellington Nannies College. She later moved to Canada with her husband where she now works as a freelance illustrator specializing in children’s illustration.
Having obsessively drawn oddball characters since adolescence, Kristy is passionate about bringing characters to life through story and illustration, focusing on representing those who have ever felt different. She treasures the mighty picture book, believing in its importance not only as a timeless educational tool, but also in its ability to inspire, encourage curiosity, and build social enrichment between reader and listener. Her personal artwork embodies her scrupulous nature and plays with proportion to illustrate how she experiences the world; with heightened senses, a fixation on details, and a strong sense of justice. Aside from making art, Kristy also loves to collect miniatures, attend ballet class, wear vintage clothing, and grow her indoor jungle. Though she takes a lot of inspiration from the bustle of the city, she enjoys the quiet spots that let her ideas stir.