Hello!

I’m a native Glaswegian living in an Edinburgh postcode. I spent five happy years at Edinburgh College of Art doing a degree in Visual Communication and a postgrad in Illustration. Since graduating, I’ve been making picture books, illustrating all of them with traditional media on paper. I did try to wrap my head around the basics of digital illustration before realising that it wasn’t for me. Mainly because I love working with materials made by and for human hands, on paper made from wood, cotton, linen and sometimes, mulberries.

Since I was small, I have written stories and drawn pictures. It’s how I make sense of the world and explain it to myself. When I make picture books, it’s in the hope that my readers will be reassured, comforted and reminded of the best aspects of being small ; feeling safe and loved, possibly in pyjamas and ready for bed. This mission statement applies just as much to adults as it does to children. Sharing stories to light our little candles against the darkness.

“But what happens when we’re dead and gone
will you love me then, does love go on?”
“Look at the stars, how they shine and glow
– but some of those stars died a long time ago.
Still they shine in the evening skies,
because love, like starlight, never dies.”

‘No Matter what’ Debi Gliori

I have occasionally stepped away from such hygge like comforts and tackled grittier subjects: war and homelessness in ‘A Cat Called Waverley’, climate warming in ‘The Trouble With Dragons’ and depression in ‘Night Shift’. Challenging subjects, but an huge privilege to share them with young people.

I hold an honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University. Dr Gliori will see you now…

I’m Scottish Book Trust Bookbug’s mummy. So proud!

(bless his dear little wibbly anthers)

All site content copyright Debi Gliori 2025