Murray the Pirate

About Adam Stower

Adam Stower is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. He was born in England and grew up in a village at the edge of Lake Zurich after his family moved to Switzerland. Adam has loved drawing for as long as he can remember. He achieved a first-class honours degree in Illustration from Norwich School of Art, followed by a master’s degree in Narrative Illustration from the University of Brighton. 

Adam has illustrated sixteen picture books to date, seven of which he wrote himself. He has also illustrated many chapter books for children both here and in the US.

His books have received international acclaim, winning prizes at home and abroad, including the Red House Book Award for Bottom’s Up! (Author – Jeanne Willis) 2010 and the Wanda Gag Read-Aloud Book Award (US) for Silly Doggy! 2013.

Adam’s publishers include David Fickling Books, Puffin, Templar Publishing, Bloomsbury, Faber and Faber, Random House, Scholastic (US), Alison Green Books and Candlewick (US) and his books are translated into many languages around the world.

Aside from his work for children’s fiction, Adam also does regular editorial and advertising illustration work. Adam often visits schools, libraries and festivals at home and abroad where he entertains children and adults alike with readings from his books and live-drawing demonstrations.

Much of King Coo was inspired by Adam’s memories of playing in the woods at the back of his home with his brother, Matt, and of the time he spent at a 462-year-old boarding school in north Norfolk.

Adam lives in Brighton, with his wife, his daughter and a cat called Murray.

Author photo © Paul Winter