Alex T. Smith

After working as a production assistant for an outdoor theatre events company, Smith decided to pursue his artistic side and enrolled on an illustration degree from which he graduated with 1st class honours and a second placing in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Illustration. His breakthrough book Claude in the City – aimed at a 5-8-years old readership - was published in 2011 and introduced the comic misadventures of a lovable dog depicted in red, black and white artwork. The Claude series now comprises numerous titles including Claude on Holiday, Claude at the Circus and Claude in the Country. In 2017, Smith embarked on a fresh series called Mr Penguin, about a flightless bird who also happens to be a detective and adventurer, whilst he has also contributed illustrations for children’s book series written by Caryl Hart and Anna Maxted. Smith penned and illustrated a festive volume entitled How Winston Delivered Christmas in 2018, which was followed by How Winston Came Home for Christmas three years later. 2022 saw the publication of his first novel for slightly older readers, The Grumpus.