Meet the Authors
Writer - Ian Brown
Ian Brown is a London-based writer and producer for television and former Fleet Street journalist. His TV credits include Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, The South Bank Show, This Is Your Life with host Michael Aspel, Comic Relief, Take Your Pick with Des O’Connor, Petrolheads with Chris Barrie, Neil Morrissey and Richard Hammond, and the feature documentary Born to Royalty narrated by Hugh Bonneville.
He has written or produced for the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, George Michael, Simon Cowell, The Simpsons, Tom Jones, Floella Benjamin, George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Martin Scorsese, Bob Monkhouse, Paul Whitehouse, Trevor McDonald, Michael Caine and Bruce Forsyth, among many others.
Ian is also the creator and writer of grown-up cartoon series The Bruvs which was animated by Eoin.
The Albert series are Ian’s first book titles for children. The Hugg ‘n’ Bugg books have been worked on for years.
“I have written for as long as I can remember. I think I won my first prize when I was about five. It was a story and drawing to say how milk from a cow became chocolate. I won a certificate from Cadbury’s. Books I loved – and still do – would have to include Paddington.”
Ian is available for school events when he shares his stories and talks about resilience, perseverance, the work involved in creating a book and encourages creativity. He is also a regular visitor at bookshops and libraries.
He works with various literacy organisations including Bookmark Reading, Schoolreaders, Literacy Pirates, ABC to Read and several tortoise, turtle and reptile conservation and welfare organisations around the world. Please get in touch if you would like a visit.
Illustrator - Eoin Clarke
Eoin Clarke has worked for thirty years in the animation industry as a director, animator and storyboard artist – his directorial work across films, commercials and documentaries has garnered thirty awards. Clients include the BBC, Channel 4, BFI, and Ray Harryhausen, as a storyboard artist, as well as animation for CBBC: Operation Ouch and the opening titles of popular TV series Harry Hill: You’ve Been Framed and Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.
The Albert series are his first illustrated books. Adding the Hugg ‘n’ Bugg books has been a delight. Albert and the Flood was nominated for a Carnegie Award for illustration.
Eoin has a Diploma in Foundation studies in Art and Design from Trowbridge Technical College, BA Hons in Graphic Design from Middlesex University and an MA Degree in Animation.
“I have always drawn since I can remember. I started my own comic books when I was ten years old. Septimus Blood the Pirate and Glub the Caveman. Technically my first paid work was for 2000AD comic in 1979 at the age of eleven when they published one of my illustrations and I won £3.
As a child, I loved Thomas the Tank Engine and Dr Seuss as well as the illustrations of Guillermo Mordillo and Jean Jaques Loup.”