Lesley McGee

I am now a proud member of Author Pen Pals.
APP is an initiative created in 2023 with the purpose of connecting Australian authors and illustrators with Australian schools, in particular those that rarely have the opportunities to host or meet authors due to lack of funds or their remote location.

Proudly associated with

LESLEY McGEE is a Melbourne-based artist, illustrator, designer and photographer, who lives in the leafy outer suburbs and loves to travel the world for inspiration. She has a passion for encouraging fun and freedom in creative drawing with artists of any age and skill level.

Lesley’s world was once filled with landscape oils and gouache caricatures, mediums which she still enjoys but have made room for a passionate love affair with vibrant pencil, pastel and inks. Texture, light and detail are a major feature of her work.

As a young artist she was spell-bound by the detailed and fantastical worlds of Norman Rockwell, Graeme Base and Frida Kahlo, influences that are reflected in her artwork today.

Lesley specialises in illustrative portrait and commission work and in recent years has stepped into the world of children’s picture books. She enjoys working with authors and publishers in the process of bringing magical stories to life.

Inspired by many wonderful books from her childhood and the beauty of the world around us, the intricate ‘micro-worlds’ within Lesley’s work, are fast becoming her feature trademark.

Lesley’s debut as a picture book illustrator was Evie is all Ears in 2020. Written by Kellie Byrnes and published by Little Pink Dog Books, the book has been very popular in the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Her second picture book Night Lights was released in 2021. Written by Inda Ahmad Zahri and published by Little Pink Dog Books, the picture book was shortlisted in the International Rubery Awards for Independent Publishers in 2022 and Speech Pathology Book of the Year in 2023.

Emma’s Freckles written by Sarah Wallace was the third book Lesley illustrated and was published by Little Pink Dog Books in 2023. The book weaves a magical story full of ancient mythology.

A very exciting moment for Lesley is the 2023 release of her fourth book with publisher Little Pink Dog Books. The Fabulous Fruit Shake Mystery was instrumental in her early journey into the picture book world.

Lesley completed the Picture Book Illustration e-Course by talented picture book illustrator Nina Rycroft in 2017 and is currently studying an Australian Writers Centre course Presenting to Kids in 2023. She is a member of a number of art collectives and online groups.

Lesley is also a part of the current illustration team for The School Magazine.
A NSW Department of Education initiative, it produces a variety of literary magazines for primary school kids in NSW.

While Lesley’s first love is all things drawing and painting, she has an extensive and varied career background in print and marketing design. This comes in very handy when putting together fun ideas for activity sheets and projects.

Travelling the world, discovering new cultures and tasting all kinds of yummy foods is definitely a favourite passion.
Lesley has also been known to shimmy and shake with her dance troupe and drop a cheeky Salsa with her latin amigas.

Lesley’s Links:
Website: lesleymcgee.com
Instagram: @lesleymac28
Facebook: @lesleymcgee

Books:
Evie is All Ears: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/evie-is-all-ears/ ISBN: 978-0-6486528-2-3 Published 2020

Night Lights: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/night-lights/ ISBN: 978-0-6486528-4-7 Published 2021

Emma’s Freckles: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/emmas-freckles/ ISBN: 978-0-6489641-6-2 Publication 2023

The Fabulous Fruit Shake Mystery: https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/the-fabulous-fruit-shake-mystery/ ISBN: 978-0-6454184-4-6 Publication 2023

Thank you for your interest in my work.
Please note: Due to many commitments, I am currently unable to assist in self publishing projects.