John Duvall
John grew up on Long Island, NY where he started work as a tree climber and arborist during high school. Here he developed his passion for trees, which turned into a lifelong vocation.
Leading a dual career, he also worked as a documentary sound recordist, covering stories on farming, forestry, public parks, land use and a variety of environmental topics, for the BBC, PBS and other television networks.
He also started a blog called Tree Diaries where people submit their own stories about beloved trees, and wrote an Op Ed piece that appeared in the NY Times, advocating use of a living Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center.
Additional writing by John and other projects:
Boats of Hempstead Harbor, John Duvall
By John Duvall New York Times | November 26, 2009
Rediscovering the integrity and beauty of the fallen tree
Storm Debris Transformed by a Treehouse Architect, or a Big Bird
New York Times | April 5, 2013
New York Daily News | February 24, 2013
Rebecca Gibbon
Illustrator, Rebecca Gibbon was born in Wales in 1968. The youngest of four children she was fed on a diet of picture books by Edward Ardizzone, Roger Duvoisin & Richard Scarry; she dreamt of being an illustrator.
Her favourite book was "Frances Face-Maker" by Tomi Ungerer. Her ambition was realized after gaining a first class Honours degree from John Moores University and consequently a Masters at Royal College of Art, London. While at the RCA she was spotted at a childrens book expo in Paris by a french Agent. Since graduating she has worked all over the globe and is represented in New York by Riley Illustration.
Rebecca paints in watercolour ink & coloured pencil, and bases her characters on the people she has met and seen over the years. She used to paint on newsprint until one day she looked back at some old work and it had all faded. Lesson learnt, she now works on acid free cartridge paper.
She lives with her husband and two boys in what was once the Old Village Stores, surrounded by their eclectic collections of vintage childrens books, balloon pumps & 1950's ceramics. She loves junk shops, flea markets, drinking tea & of course drawing.
Learn more about Rebecca and see more of her beautiful illustrations