Learn a bit about me
The Short Version
CINDY LANE loves to make things, especially books. She can be found most days splashing about in rock-pools, and paint puddles. When out exploring she observes and collects all sorts of things, transforming them into book illustrations in her seaside studio. Cindy has travelled the world giving talks and workshops, showing others how to enjoy being creative. She has lived East, West and Far North coast Australia, but now calls Perth home.
The Medium Version
CINDY LANE is a Perth-based creative who encourages everyone to explore their creative potential. She illustrated her first picture book, Great White Shark (written by Claire Saxby) with Walker Books Australia 2021. It won the prestigious Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Award 2022 Best Children’s Book, as well as making the CBCA Shortlist for New Illustrator 2022.
Her next book, Oceans at Night (written by Dr Vanessa Pirotta) with CSIRO Publishing, launched June 2024. She is currently working on three more nature books with Walker Books Australia, CSIRO Publishing and Fremantle Press.
Cindy loves to share her creative techniques through workshops as well as online. Bringing out the artist in everyone, especially those who think they can't draw or paint, is what Cindy loves most. She has helped countless students overcome Perfection Paralysis and Blank Page Syndrome.
A nature lover since childhood, Cindy was awarded a Greenpeace Ambassadorship in 2017, sharing knowledge and inspiring positive action with her work.
The Longer Version
Hi, I’m Cindy, and I love making things, especially books. I run fun workshops and events where you get to create with me.
My first book collab was in Year 3 with my best friend. She was the author and I was the Illustrator. Coloured pencils were my Go To, as textas always bled through exercise book paper. Unfortunately I used to lick my coloured pencils to make them more vibrant, which meant they bled through the paper anyway!
“How long have you been illustrating?” is something I’m always asked. I remember drawing a black swan on a river facing a waterfall, from when I was about 3, and progressing to horses in school, then all of nature captured my imagination!
After school and uni I left art and illustration for a bit, exploring various careers : medical underwriter (lots of medical reports), actuarial assistant (lots of maths), commercial cook (lots of standing & stirring), working in an art store (lots of standing and spending my wages on art supplies), designing & manufacturing giftware (lots of glueing and packaging), and was even a Calligrapher (lots of ink spills) for a while.
I finally realised I loved drawing, painting and books more than anything, and decided that’s what I would do from now on!
I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Australia West chapter, the Australian Society of Authors and the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
I have am brand ambassador for select art supplies and home decor companies. Discount codes and more info HERE:
I like to work with all sorts of materials, both analogue and digital. Here are some of my favourites:
ANALOGUE : Watercolours are my first choice, followed closely by inks, pencils, pastels, gouache, acrylics and markers. Cotton watercolour papers and sketchbooks are what I reach for most days.
DIGITAL : Adobe Photoshop, a Wacom graphics tablet, an iPad Pro, the Procreate app, and I’ve just started using Rebelle, where you can paint watercolours that drip down the digital page!.
