Welcome to Rachael’s world!
Rachael Dean is a British illustrator based in the North West of the UK, known for bringing stories to life with her vibrant, charming artwork. With over 30 children’s books to her name, she’s had the joy of collaborating with beloved authors and world-renowned publishers. Her work has even earned a shortlist spot for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. A career highlight includes being selected to illustrate new children’s titles by the legendary Dame Jacqueline Wilson, which has been an absolute dream come true!
Children's books
Discover Rachael’s vibrant and captivating book illustrations, and seize the chance to own your own copies!
Illustrations
Explore Rachael’s bold, rich, and decorative scenic illustrations that capture the wonder of human nature. Meet her charming characters, each with a beautiful story to tell.
Shop
Rachael’s shop is coming soon! Subscribe to her newsletter, The Art of Being Real, to be the first to know when it launches.
Book Club
The Middle Grade Grown-Ups is a relaxed, welcoming book club for adults who love reading middle grade fiction, hosted by Rachael. Come and join the fun over on the Fable app!
Discover The Art of Being Real on Substack! Rachael writes about honest reflections, creative inspiration, and the highs and lows of her artistic journey.
Patreon
I'm currently exploring the idea of launching a Patreon page for those who’d like a little something extra from my creative world. Stay tuned on my social channels more for updates soon!
Sign up for Rachael’s monthly newsletter, Rachael’s Corner! Get the latest on her creative adventures, work-in-progress projects, new art, book recommendations, and more.
Client Testimonials
Designer at Penguin Random House UK
Emily Smyth
“Every project with Rachael is an absolute dream! She’s fantastically creative, always punctual and an expert at bringing stories to life. Truly a joy to collaborate with!”
Danielle Ravenport
Designer at Bloomsbury
“Rachael is an absolute dream to work with, she is full of creativity, has really fun ideas and illustrates characters and animals with so much humour and individuality that brings all the scenes to life throughout her books. It’s always a pleasure to work with her and I thoroughly enjoyed working on The Thames and Tide Club series together.”
Children’s Fiction art director, Simon & Schuster UK
Jesse Green
“Working with Rachael on Nicola Baker’s Whistledown Farm Adventures series has been a real delight. On top of being extremely talented and illustrating the cutest farm animals I’ve ever seen, she’s also a pleasure to work with and is always receptive to feedback. I’m looking forward to working with Rachael again.”