Petra Szabo
At the age of eighteen
I began to study Illustration and Graphic-Design at the Art School in
Wuppertal in Germany, the same town where I was born and where I grew
up.
My examination work was a children’s picture book about the five
senses.
Then I studied pedagogy, language and art history at the Universities
in Bochum and in Wuppertal.
After that I worked in many different pofessions:
As a teacher, as a graphic-designer and as a freelance illustrator for
picture books and teaching aids. Sometimes I worked in the botanical garden
in Wuppertal where I learned more about flowers and plants.
But I didn't only work, I often travelled with friends and all the time
I collected ideas and dreamed about writing my own picture books.
In May 1980 I immigrated to Sweden.
Here I began to write fairytales and stories and painted and drew pictures.
Some years later I found a publisher in Stockholm for my own picture books.
1984 I made my debut with the
book Flyg, fågel min, AWE-Gebers (The fledgling, Hutchinson, 1985)
Until today I have written and illustrated 20 own children’s books
and illustrated many other authors’ books. I live with my family
in a suburb of Stockholm.
