Studiomate Steve

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Illustrator Steven Lenton chats to fellow creatives about their work, career, process, inspirations and life.

Steven Lenton


    • Nov 11, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 1m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Studiomate Steve

    Episode 30: Mikey Please

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 52:46


    Mikey has created and directed myriad, beautiful animation projects and has now entered the world of children's picture books with his gorgeous debut 'The Cafe At The Edge Of The Woods' which we discuss, along with his work with Aardman, his views on AI and our current favourite books.

    Episode 29: Paul Black

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 72:50


    Paul is the PR and Brand Director at Andersen Press and chats to me about the role of a publicist within the children's book industry. We delve into brilliant books and also Vanderpump Rules, Love Is Blind and Below Deck - we love a bit of telly! Fun and informative, Paul is an excellent guest!

    Episode 28: Jamie Smart

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 60:39


    Comic book creator extraordinaire Jamie, best-known for Bunny V's Monkey and numerous The Phoenix characters, chats about his life/work balance and his earlier career working on The Dandy and a naturist publication amongst others! Also his penchant for gardening and his choice of books for the Studiomate Steve Suggests segment!


    Episode 27: Rachel Morrisroe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2024 53:28


    Author extraordinaire Rachel talks about her upcoming picture book, young fiction AND middle grade titles plus her opinions on public events and the north/south divide in publishing.

    Episode 26: Nadia Shireen

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 80:40


    Nadia chats about her early career as a magazine sub-editor, her switch to children's books, Grimwood 3 and lemon curd!

    nadia shireen
    Episode 25: David Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 88:15


    From his early days as a milliner right through to his Emmy award-winning tv show, David chats with warmth and humour about his career so far.

    Episode 24: Katie Clapham

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 72:34


    Author and bookseller Katie is a mind full of top tips and experience when it comes to both running a successful bookshop and writing fiction and picture books. A must-listen!

    Episode 23: Penny Neville-Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 78:20


    Illustrator of beautiful things and mega Columbo fan Penny chats about her RCA days, her workspace, publishing industry experience so far and juggling kids, cats and creativity!

    Episode 22: Ruby Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 68:40


    Ruby may only just be starting out in the picture book world but boy has she already made a big impression! We discuss screen-printing, rejection, answer LOTS of listener questions and have really good giggle in the process!

    Episode 21: Ella Beech

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 66:46


    Debut picture book illustrator Ella is a tour de force of talent. We discuss her rise from novelty book designer to her premiere publication by The Folio Society! Hairy flaps, paper engineering, Christmas adverts and much much more is discussed! And we both recommend our current favourite picture books!

    Episode 20: Tracey Corderoy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 65:33


    A special 10 Year Anniversary special episode with author of the Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam children's book series! We talk about where the initial idea came from for the first book and how the beloved, best-selling series has evolved over the years.

    year anniversary tracey corderoy
    Episode 19: Sharon King Chai

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 54:12


    Designer, author, illustrator and all-round amazing cheery talent, Sharon talks to me about her collaborative process with Julia Donaldson, how she copes with flights to Oz and her insights into the children's publishing industry.

    Episode 18: Harry Woodgate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 55:45


    Harry was a joy to talk to and we discuss pencil roughs, the transition from uni to paid illustration work and loads more!

    Episode 17: Karl James Mountford

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 65:07


    The king of middle grade covers is here! And he chats about rejection, style, his picture books and THE CHICKEN MAN!!!

    Episode 16: Fiona Lumbers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 59:51


    Me and Fiona chat everything from her work with children's laureate Joseph Coelho, quiz shows to acting and traditional work methods. This episode also introduces 'Studiomate Steve Suggests...' the children's book review segment!

    Episode 15: Jack Noel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 64:13


    Author/illustrator/designer/witty man Jack Noel tells us all about his career, his thoughts and advice on book cover design, his love of Weetabix and being woke.

    Episode 14: Julia Patton

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 64:50


    Julia is utterly charming and we have a really eye-opening conversation about her work, process, journey to illustrating hit books in the UK & US and lots of giggles in-between!

    Episode 13: Ben Mantle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2023 72:43


    Author and illustrator of beautiful and hilarious picture books, including Dick The Delightful Duck (which we discuss extensively!) and many fiction covers and interiors. A super fun and informative episode.

    Episode 12: Sallyanne Sweeney

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2023 66:41


    I talk to literary and illustration agent Sallyanne Sweeney about graphic novel and picture book submission tips, celebrity authors, contracts, meeting room snack faux pas and flash mobs!

    Episode 11: Jarvis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 64:28


    Season 2 kicks off in style with the amazing Jarvis! We discuss sketchbook pressure, Bear and Bird, iPads, we answer listener questions PLUS find out where and why he met MR MOTIVATOR.

    Studiomate Steve Season 2 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2023 10:45


    We are back! And in this little ten minute special I list the incredible guests I will be interviewing this season and share a fun little recording with some pals from the Bologna Book Fair!

    bologna book fair
    Episode 10: Dapo Adeola

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 55:29


    Truly inspirational Dapo chats about his career from a gym receptionist to multi-award winning illustrator and author all within the space of just 4 years! A fitting finale for the series.

    Episode 9: Jim Field

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 62:34


    Illustration superstar Jim joins me to chat about his numerous big hitters including The Lion Inside and Oi Frog! He also shares a very funny anecdote about an embarrassing situation with his mother-in-law...listen right to the end guys!

    Episode 8: Alex T Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 60:05


    It's the season one Christmas Special! And who better to chat to than the king of Christmas children's books Alex T Smith! We chat about Alex's work, dogs, chickens, books and tv shows. Merry Christmas to all our lovely listeners!

    Episode 7: Claire Powell

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 67:59


    The illustrator of many wonderful picture book and fiction collaborations joins me for a really funny and informative chat about her career from brand designer to best seller!

    Episode 6: Lydia Monks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 53:28


    The queen of picture book illustration chats about working with Julia Donaldson, drawalong videos, her latest title 'Adoette' and her poodle Chadwick!

    Episode 5: Rikin Parekh

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 61:57


    Traditional illustrator Rikin chats about working as a storyboard artist, his time at Pinewood Studios, collaborating with a range of authors and juggling life and work.

    Episode 4: Chris Chatterton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 57:02


    My first international guest, Chris has some great Photoshop tips and tricks and discusses his best-selling picture books. And missing Greggs.

    Episode 3: Sophy Henn

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 64:53


    Superstar Sophy tells us all about her journey from designer to children's book creator via raspberry jam, roller-booting and karaoke!

    sophy henn
    Episode 2: Benji Davies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 65:23


    'Storm Whale' creator Benji chats about his creative process, his animation background and Bizzy Bear costumes!

    Episode 1: Tor Freeman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 60:46


    In the first episode I chat to genius author and illustrator Tor Freeman who tells us about her life and experiences of being in the children's book industry and her latest book with Richard Ayoade.

    Studiomate Steve - an introduction!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 12:52


    Your host, author and illustrator Steven Lenton, says hello! This is a podcast for illustrators, authors, designers, editors, students and anyone who is interested in the world of children's book creation. Steven will be chatting with some terrific illustrators over the coming weeks, discussing their life, work, career and anything else they wish to divulge... Think of Steve as your virtual Studiomate!

    steven lenton

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