About

Geraldine “Deanie” Harris is a children's book illustrator and character designer based in Durban, South Africa.

She has spent more than four decades drawing characters, creating imaginary worlds and bringing ideas to life — first within the gaming industry and, more recently, in the world of children's books.

Central to Deanie's approach is understanding the psychology behind a character — who they are, how they think, how they might react and what makes them definable. This understanding informs everything from posture and expression to the smallest visual details, allowing her to develop characters that feel distinctive, believable and full of character.

Her illustration roots are firmly traditional, working originally in pencil and marker before embracing digital illustration. Today she combines these skills to create expressive characters and richly imagined environments with a touch of humour and plenty of heart.

She is currently available for children's book illustration, character design and selected illustration commissions.