About Me

Thank you for visiting my website! Here’s a bit more about me.

I live in Hackney, London with my partner, two teenage children, a cat called Firelight and a dog called Milly. 

I grew up in north London and have been writing stories and drawing pictures for as long as I can remember. I made my first picture book in a sketchbook with my mum when I was five. 

When I left school, I studied English and Art at university, and then got a place on a traineeship with BBC Television. I worked as a producer for over ten years, making programmes about subjects as diverse as priceless paintings and problem pets! 

After I had my children, I decided to follow my dream of making books for children and I went back to college to study an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. My debut book The Strongest Mum was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, and in 2019 I won the Independent Booksellers’ Best New Illustrator Award.

I’m now creating books for children from 0-7, including novelty board books, non-fiction books and early chapter books as well as picture books.

When I’m not at my desk I love reading, brisk walking, going to the cinema and theatre, and cuddling my cat and dog.

Contact details

If you are a reader, parent, carer, teacher or librarian, I’d love to hear from you. You can write to me or send me children’s artwork or stories here: nicolakentbooks@gmail.com.

For publishing enquiries, please contact my agent, Jodie Hodges, here: jhodges@unitedagents.co.uk