Nicola Moffat

I spent the first 15 years of my life living in various locations in South Africa. My father moved the family to Cork, Ireland in 1998 and I have lived here ever since. My paternal grandmother was from Ballyvourney in West Cork, so it was a natural choice. I grew up with a pencil in my hand and have always loved illustration; this was thanks in large part to my upbringing, as my mother is an artist and my father an architect. I never wanted for inspiration, because our home was always filled with art, books, and things of beauty. Growing up with an artist for a mother has instilled in me an eye for detail and, although I never went to art school, I have used this attention to detail in other areas of my life, particularly in my writing. I am a published poet and academic writer and have a PhD in English Literature. My ambition is to create an illustrated bestiary featuring my writing and my art.