Mei Matsuoka was born in Tokyo, Japan where she spent the early part of her childhood, before moving to England and settling in the Cotswolds at the age of 11.

She found growing up between two different cultures an amazing experience and often travels back and forth between Japan and England, the city and the countryside.

Since graduating from Kingston University, Mei has been working as a freelance illustrator, specialising in children’s books. Her recent work, Burger Boy, written by Alan Durant, a skilful and witty blend of paint, crayon and collage, was published by Andersen Press in 2005, followed by Footprints in the Snow in 2007.