Biography

Rebecca is an award winning children’s book illustrator, artist and author. Her titles have been shortlisted for Kate Greenaway CILIP Medal, the Portsmouth Book Award, the Sheffield Book Award, the Stockport Children’s Book Award and the Hillingdon Picture Book Award. Her most recent book, Thunderboots, (by Naomi Jones / Oxford University Press, 2024), won the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award and The Readers’ Choice Award in The Diverse Book Awards.

Passionate about teaching art and visual literacy, Rebecca runs regular workshops exploring innovative and inclusive approaches to creativity. She also works with ReConnect Gloucestershire, developing and delivering online and in person weekly art classes for people with long term health conditions.

Rebecca lives with her family and their lurcher hound, nestled in the Golden Valleys, near Stroud UK.

CONTACT

Represented by Millie van Grutten at RCW Agency.

Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook

EDUCATION

Central Saint Martins MA Communication Design & Illustration
Westminster University Illustration (First Class) BA (Hons)
Norwich School Of Art Foundation in Art & Design

AWARDS & NEWS

2024 The Diverse Book Awards Winner of The Readers’ Choice in Picture Books for 'Thunderboots’ Naomi Jones/Rebecca Ashdown, OUP
2024 The Week Junior Book Awards Shortlisted - Picture Book for 'Thunderboots’ Naomi Jones/Rebecca Ashdown, OUP
2024 Derby Children’s Picture Book Award 1st Prize winner for 'Thunderboots’ Naomi Jones/Rebecca Ashdown, OUP
2023 Derby Children’s Picture Book Award Shortlisted for 'My Granny is a Queen’ Madeleine Cook/Rebecca Ashdown, OUP
2021 Arts Council England Awarded DYCP grant (‘Developing Your Creative Practice’)
2020 Authors’ Foundation / SoA Awarded continuation grant for ‘Works In Progress’
2017-19 Live action/animation feature film Optioned for ‘The Whopper’ Rebecca Ashdown, Templar
2017 Sheffield Book Award Shortlisted for ‘Odd Socks’ Michelle Robinson/Rebecca Ashdown, Andersen Press
2017 Hillingdon Picture Book of the Year Shortlisted for ‘Odd Socks’ Michelle Robinson/Rebecca Ashdown, Andersen Press
2017 The Society of Illustrators Selected for The Original Art Show for ‘Even Fairies Fart’ Jennifer Stinson/Rebecca Ashdown, HarperCollins USA
2016 The Portsmouth Book Award Shortlisted for ‘The Whopper,’ Templar
2015 Kate Greenaway CILIP Award Shortlisted for ‘Bob and Flo’ - hide and seek OUP
2015 The Sheffield Children’s Book Award Shortlisted for ‘Bob and Flo’ - the missing bucket, OUP

Publishers

UK Faber & Faber : Templar : Andersen Press : Frances Lincoln/Otter-Barry Books : Oxford University Press : Rising Stars
US Houghton Mifflin Harcourt : HarperCollins : Candlewick Press : Random House : Little Bee : Holiday House : Kar-Ben : Sterling

Co-editions

Thunderboots:
- Finland Kustannus Makela
My Granny is a Queen:
- Germany DTV Verlagsgesellschaft
Odd Socks:
- USA Holiday House
- Korea Dadam Education
Whopper:
- USA Candlewick Press
- Turkey Tuerkiye Is Bankasi Kueltuer Yayinlari
Bob and Flo and the missing Bucket & Bob and Flo play Hide and Seek:
- USA HMH
- China Dolphin Media Group
- Korea Kizm Education Group
- Norway, Sweden, Finland Sandviks AS
- Australia Learning Discovery PTY LTD
How the Library (NOT the Prince) Saved Rapunzel:
- Lo Stampatello (Italy)
How To Train the Perfect Parents
- Sterling Children's Books (USA)

Books 2014 - 2025

The Hug Button Naomi Jones & Rebecca Ashdown, Oxford University Press UK 2025
Thunderboots Naomi Jones & Rebecca Ashdown, Oxford University Press UK 2023
My Granny is a Queen Madeleine Cook & Rebecca Ashdown, Oxford University Press UK 2022
Kugel for Hanukkah? Gretchen M Everin & Rebecca Ashdown, Kar-Ben Publishing USA 2019
How to Train the Perfect Parents Rebecca Ashdown, Templar UK 2018
A Gift for Grandpa Rebecca Ashdown, Rising Stars UK 2018
Vanya the Viking Rebecca Ashdown, Rising Stars UK 2018
Even Fairies Fart Jennifer Stinson & Rebecca Ashdown, HarperCollins USA 2017
Wally Wants to Hug Barbara Joosse & Rebecca Ashdown, Little Bee USA 2017
Zoo Boy and the Jewel Thieves Sophie Thompson & Rebecca Ashdown, Faber & Faber UK 2017
Seed Mix Rebecca Ashdown, Rising Stars UK 2017
Bob and Flo - Hide and Seek Rebecca Ashdown Oxford University Press UK 2016
Odd Socks Michelle Robinson & Rebecca Ashdown, Andersen Press UK 2016
The Glump and the Peeble Wendy Meddour & Rebecca Ashdown, Frances Lincoln UK 2016
The Whopper Rebecca Ashdown, Templar UK 2015
Zoo Boy Sophie Thompson & Rebecca Ashdown, Faber & Faber UK 2015
Bob and Flo - The Missing Bucket Rebecca Ashdown, Oxford University Press UK 2014
How the Library (NOT the Prince) Saved Rapunzel Wendy Meddour & Rebecca Ashdown, Frances Lincoln UK 2014
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats TS Eliot & Rebecca Ashdown, Faber & Faber UK 2014