“In 2022 I took the financial and professional risk and stepped away from a successful, lucrative rolling picturebook contract with my then publisher. I did this because I felt strongly that the work I was creating did not represent me as an artist anymore and I wanted to progress and develop my visual language to align more with my personal sensibilities, values and beliefs and to centre myself more visibly in the work I create and how it is seen. To further encourage a more progressive and creatively enriching relationship with my outputs I started applying to international exhibitions and competitions which you can see the results of below. The gamble of stepping away from security and into a more creative vision of my practice paid off and the work I create now has a renewed energy, meaningful engagement and creative impact with a new client list. I am excited to share my new work and continue to work with clients who are making positive changes in the world. I hope you enjoy my work and please get in touch to discuss any ideas you may have for working with me” Caroline Pedler 2024.

Caroline is an Illustrator, artist and educator. She has exhibited and curated numerous shows around the UK and more recently been part of illustration exhibitions in Bologna, Italy, Shanghai, China and Sharjah, UE.

Having illustrated over 55 children's picture books and worked with a variety of International clients over the past 24 years, Caroline started her career as a co-edition iIllustrator, with her books being n 27 different languages and selling all over the world. Clients inc Little Tiger Press, Sterling USA, Barnes & Noble, Hallmark, Sony, Tescos, Walmart, Scholastic, Parragon, Marks & Spencers, Readers Digest and Matalan.

Completing an MA in Authorial Practice / Illustration at Falmouth University in 2011 meant her passion for sketchbooks was reignited and a healthy authorial practice was born and the work that you see here. Shortly after in 2012 she founded her own small press An-Ti-Dote Press where she publishes her own artist / picture books.

Caroline runs various Masterclasses in art and Illustration around the county and currently works as a lecturer on BA Illustration and leads the MA Illustration pathway at Plymouth College of Art. Along with being the External Examiner for MA Illustration - Authorial Practice at Falmouth University.

Launching the preparatory illustrations for her first self-authored picturebook in 2018 gained the attention of four international judges at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy where she was one of only 80 illustrators in over 3000 entrants to be chosen to take part in The Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration Exhibition / annual and world tour. In 2019-20 Caroline was also chosen for the Image of the Book illustration exhibition in Russia and the Children’s Reading festival, illustration exhibition in Sharjah, UE.

Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration Exhibition / annual and world tour, Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bologna, Italy 2018

In Nov 2020 Caroline’s illustrations got chosen again for the CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition in Shanghai and won the annual award for Professional Group. Securing the contract to create the key visuals for next years event. More recently the book was one of the top 6 publisher voted books in the Dpictus Picturebookmakers Unpublished Showcase in 2022 and exhibited at Frankfurt, Germany and Bologna Children’s book Fairs in Italy.

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Shows

2024 The Accidental Gardener - A Picturebook Process, 89 Redruth, Redruth, Cornwall.

2019 All In A Days Work - PS2 - Plymouth College of Art

2017 'An-ti-dote', The attic room, Cornwall Contemporary, Penzance

2014 Antidote-The Picture Room, Newlyn Gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall

2012 Truro Arts café, Truro

2012 Antidote, Salthouse Gallery, St Ives

2008 Rostra Gallery, Bath

2005 Rostra Gallery, Bath

Group and feature shows:

2023 - Bologna Children’s Book Fair - Visual identity, celebration exhibition and publications. Italy, Europe.

2022 - Dpictus Unpublished Showcase - The Accidental Gardener - Bologna Children’s Book Fair / Frankfurt Book Fair

2021 - Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival - Illustrators Exhibition - Sharjah, United Emirates

2020 - Award Winner - Professional group - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.

2019 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - MBC - Munhwa Broadcasting Corp of Daegu, South Korea

2018 / 19 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Nagashima Art Museum (Kagoshima) Japan

2018 - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.

2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum (Ishikawa, Nanao) Japan

2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Yokkaichi Municipal Museum (Mir, Yokkaichi) Japan

2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Otani Memorial Art Museum (Hogo, Nishinomiya) Japan

2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Narimasu Art Gallery (Tokyo, Itabashi Art Museum) Japan

2018 Löwen Haus - Dorfmitte 7,  Gerswalde, Uckermark. Germany

2018 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - World Tour

2018 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration, Bologna Fiere, Bologna, Italy 

2017 The Drawing Show, Project Space1, Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth

2017 'Collage 366', The Lander Gallery, Truro

2017 SKETCH2017 Black Swan Arts, Frome

2017 SKETCH2017 Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth

2017 SKETCH2017 Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University

2017 SKETCH2017 Rabley Drawing Centre, Marlborough

2015 Walking Into Memory, 60 Morab Rd, Penzance

2014-16  Newlyn School of Art Tutors Show Newlyn Art Gallery

2013 ‘Drawing the Line’ Millennium (Anima Mundi) Gallery, St Ives

2013 Newlyn School of Art Tutors fundraiser Newlyn Art Gallery

2013 ‘Waterlog’, The Poly Falmouth

2013 ‘A Night, A day, Another night’. Bucca, Newlyn

2013 ‘Painting Show’ Bucca, Newlyn

2013 ‘Fiat Lux’ Limbo, Cornwall Art Biennial, Truro

2012 ‘Leth’, Newlyn

2012/14 Plumbline and Orchard Gallery, St Ives

2012 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro

2011 MA group show Truro Arts Café, Truro

2011 MA show Falmouth University

2011 MA group show Hung, Drawn and Authored, The Poly Falmouth

2010 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro

2010 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery iii St Austell

2010 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery ii Truro

2009 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro

2009 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery i, Truro

2009 Seed Surf, Wadebridge

2004 Bristol Arts Trail, Bristol.

2004 ‘About 10’, Awning project, Spyglass, Bristol

2003 Bristol Arts Trail, Bristol.

2003 Caroline Pedler and Terry Frost, Rostra gallery, Bath

2002 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival

2001 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival

2000 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival

1999 Bread and Butter Collective, pop up gallery, Fringe Festival, Bath

TEACHING

2022 - 2025 - External Examiner - MA Illustration- Authorial Practice, Falmouth University

2022 - present - Associate Mentor, Ceri Hand mentoring.

2019 - present - Caroline Pedler - Creative Mentor. Private clients & Cultivator.

2016 - present - Part Time Lecturer, pathway leader - MA Illustration, Plymouth College of Art,

2013 - present - Tutor, Newlyn School of Art, Cornwall

2013 - present - Part Time Lecturer - BA Hons Illustration, Plymouth College of Art.

2014 - present - Mentoring in Children's book Illustration, private clients.

2010 - 2014 - Mentoring with RIO (Real Ideas Organisation) and Aggie Arts, Cornwall 

2008 - 2013 - Guest lecturer Swindon and Plymouth College of Art

1995 - present Various workshops for children and adults around the country inc most recently Cornwall School of Arts, Port Eliot Festival, Cornwall and National Saturday Club, Plymouth.

RESIDENCIES, CONFERENCES & PAPERS & AWARDS

2024 - Awarded DYCP - Arts Council England funding. Exploration & development of the creative process as author-Illustrator

2023 - Artist Publication - Trenince Farm, Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall.

2022 - Speaker - Cultivator - Falmouth University of Arts - Falmouth, Cornwall.

2020 - Award Winner - Professional group - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.

2020 - Paper - Sketchbook as therapist: Self-authorship and the art of making picturebooks - Journal of Illustration, Intellect.

2019 - Presentation - Illustrating Mental Health, Illustration Research, Worcester University, Worcester UK.

2018 - Peer reviewer - Journal Of Illustration, Intellect.

2016 - Artist Publication - Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Gulval, Cornwall

2014 - Speaker - MA - Illustration-Authorial Practice, Falmouth, Cornwall

2014 - Artist - TAaP, No.5 Porthmeor Studios, St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall

1994 - Exchange student - Ecole De Beauxs Art, Caen, France