'Jeannie Baker is the author and illustrator of thirteen critically acclaimed picturebooks. Her characteristic use of mixed media to create detailed and elaborate "relief collages" is stunningly original. Born in Croydon, London, England on November 2, 1950, she studied at the Croydon College of Art (1967–69) and attended Brighton College of Art (1969–72) in Sussex, where she gained an Honours Degree in Art and Design. She worked as a commissioned artist before illustrating her first book, Polar (1975) by Elaine Moss, and then published Grandfather (1977), which she had created at art college.' (Introduction)