Our Creatives
Author & Illustrator:
TANYA SAUNDERS
Tanya Saunders is a writer, artist and lover of wild places. The road that eventually led to her founding AVID Language and writing books for deaf children started unexpectedly back in 2016. Tanya and her husband Ian were living and working in a remote corner of the African wilderness (where Tanya had grown up with elephants literally on her doorstep) when their life was suddenly turned upside down overnight. One of their two year old twin daughters was diagnosed with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). Read More >
Author:
KAREN HARDWICKE
Karen Hardwicke is a Teacher of the Deaf but if she were a stick of rock, at her centre it would say ‘parent’. She is mum to a daughter and two sons; one of whom is deaf. The diagnosis of the latter’s deafness changed everything. Initially there was shock and grieving for the future she thought was in store. And the grieving never really went away but remained buried under layers of time and positivity and a determination to make the best of things. The journey was also characterised by trainspotter levels of excitement about language development; in particular, sign language! Read more >
Titles by Karen Hardwicke:
A Girl like Ananya
Jack Signs!
Jack Signs Colours!
Jack Signs Farm Animals!
Jasper´s Tale
Author & Illustrator:
PENNY GILL
Penny Gill is a Teacher of the Deaf who has worked with children of all ages in both sign and spoken language programs. Over the years, she has created many personalized books to help young children understand events in their lives. Penny is an aspiring artist who dabbles in drawing, writing and fiber arts. Some Fairies Wear Hearing Aids is her first published book. Penny lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA with her partner, 2 loud birds, 2 tiny rabbits, and 1 very old dog. She is the proud mom of two amazing adult children.
Titles by Penny Gill:
Some Fairies Wear Hearing Aids
Author:
ESTELLE GERRETT
Estelle Gerrett is an Auditory Verbal therapist and mother to three children, now adults. She is passionate about promoting listening and speaking for deaf children to enable them to be full members of a hearing community. Her eldest son contracted meningitis at the age of one and was left profoundly deaf. This was a life-changing moment for the whole family, a moment similar to that faced by all the families in Voices of Hope - a book collated by Estelle, containing 13 stories written by families of profoundly deaf children who grew up listening (with cochlear implants) and speaking.
Titles by Estelle Gerrett:
Voices of Hope
Illustrator:
FAITH BROOMFIELD-PAYNE
As a small child you would always find Faith with her nose stuck in her sketchbook, or trying to create something from a random item found lying around the house (a habit which hasn’t really changed). After studying Illustration at the University of Northampton, she is now a professional illustrator, with a keen interest for narrative illustration. Animals are her main inspiration, as she loves bringing out the personality within each one, and always treating each piece as an experiment, never limiting herself to a certain style or concept.
More of Faith’s work can be found through her instagram @faithbpillustrations
Titles illustrated by Faith Broomfield-Payne:
C.I. Quest
Icky Sticky Stuck!
Friends Together
Uh-oh…Phew!
Photographer: PRANALI PATIL
Pranali Patil is a newborn and family fine art photographer based in Berkshire, UK, where she lives with her husband and young son. Through her photography, Pranali likes to capture the magic in everyday moments and the loving family connections that show how beautiful life is, even with its ups and downs. Find out more about Pranali’s work >
Titles photographed by Pranali Patil:
A Girl like Ananya
Illustrator:
AMANDA WALKER
Amanda Walker is an illustrator and artist from Berkshire, UK. As well as illustrating colouring and children’s books, she enjoys painting and making quilts - but doesn’t like parting with any of them. She has a large collection of paintings and quilts.
You can have a look at more of her lovely work @mannyjeann on Instagram!
Titles illustrated by Amanda Walker:
Jack Signs!
Jack Signs Colours!
Jack Signs Farm Animals!