I was born on Friday 30th June 1967 in Prague in Czechoslovakia. I have no memories of the day at all.  I grow up on the periphery of Prague. My childhood was fun. I really have no complaints and I enjoyed it enormously.

At the age of 15 I went to study at the High School of Art in Prague - Střední umělecká škola Václava Hollara. It was good, we did everything arty there - printing, drawing, photography, design, sculpture ... and painting (my favourite subject). Ok, so it was school, but I have good memories of it.

For 2 years, from the age of 19, I worked in a state advertising and design agency. It was a joke. In communist Czechoslovakia there was nothing much to advertise or design, so I had time to paint and attend life drawing classes where I prepared myself for further studies. The experience of working at the state design agency during communism wasn’t a complete waste of time. I met many clever and creative people and looking back, it was an ‘interesting time’ to be growing up.

Then I went to study at the Academy of Fine Art in Prague. There I worked hard for 6 years. I drew and painted from morning to evening. In November 1989 there was the ‘Velvet Revolution’. The revolution started with a student strike. Students occupied their universities and schools around the country. Great fun! An exciting time which resulted in new art departments at the Academy of Fine Art, new professors, new inspirations and of course, most importantly the end of communism in Czechoslovakia. 

Soon after the revolution an English girl called Claire arrived in our studio to study as a postgraduate.  We fell in love and we have been together ever since.

In 1994 I got my Master of Fine Art degree and Claire and I moved to England. We got married in 1995 and had two daughters - Tereza and Cecilia. When I became a dad I made my first book. Walker Books published two of my board books: ‘Strawberries are Red' and 'What is Black and White' in 2001. In the same year I received the Books For Children 'Newcomer 2001' award. That’s what started my career as a writer and illustrator.

Since then I have had many books published in England and lots of other countries. I love what I'm doing - it's fun!

This is a picture of me. I may not look like this at the moment.