May Gibbs is one of Australia's best-known illustrators and her gum-nut babies have been adored by generations of children. For the first time her early life and artistic career are explored in detail. She travelled to England in a quest to develop as an artist and became an early supporter of the suffragettes. She began by painting wildflowers, and quickly discovered the limitations of being a female artist and the challenge of a career in art. One of the few women to become a commercial success, she did so by turning to fantasy and children's illustration. This is a fascinating biography of a talented artist.

About the Author

Robert Holden was the curator of The Museum of Childhood, he has written numerous books on artists and those whose focus has been illustrating for children. He is widely recognised for his work.