Cirrus@Austlit

Born in 1948 in NSW, Ron Brooks grew up in Gippsland, Victoria. Brooks subsequently went on to RMIT where he trained as an illustrator. He has been an artist and designer in theatre and journalism, and as well as lecturing in art and design, his work includes book illustration, painting, printmaking and sculpture.

Brooks has twice won the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award and he has illustrated many books for children, including The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek (1973) and John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat (1978). He illustrated Old Pig (1995) and Rosie and Tortoise (2000) which were written by Margaret Wild. He also illustrated the Frankel Mouse books, authored by Odo Hirsch, which are aimed at the 7 to 10 year old market. The stories feature the adventures of a group of mice, led by Frankel. Brooks's pictures are the result of a strong and sympathetic engagement with the text. He has also written and illustrated his own books such as Annie's Rainbow (1975).

While enjoying working on classical and traditional book design, Brooks also experiments with many different materials in his illustrations. He has been regarded as the illustrator who first brought Australian children's books onto the world scene, with publications now in many countries.

Brooks undertakes educational engagements by visiting schools in NSW and Victoria to discuss his work with teachers, librarians and students.