Children’s Book Illustrator
Over the years I have been fortunate to work on a huge variety of commissions with distinguished editors, designers and authors, including Allan Ahlberg, Julia Donaldson and Sam McBratney. I enjoy using a wide range of techniques and styles and applying these across many different types of publications.
Explore illustrations by category
Children’s book illustration - case studies
Rock-a-bye rumpus »
Spinderella »
SOS lovey »
Play with the baby animals »
Raj and the best... »
How many sleeps... »
Brave and the fox »
I love my home »
Techniques
The technique is a tool at our disposition serving the purpose. I do like acquiring new ones, although mastering them is at times challenging! When I started out, matt acrylic was my tool of choice, either heavily diluted or thick and textured. I stretched my paper on boards and applied the paint to that.
In 2009 I acquired a Wacom Intuos and made my first Photoshop steps with ‘Meeow’, published by Boxer Books. I also use marker pens with Indian ink on bleed proof paper and watercolour with ink pen. Since 2015 I’ve also worked with a Wacom Cintiq tablet.
Traditional illustration
I use Hot Press watercolour paper, watercolour and pencil/ink pen. Sometimes I work on them separately and combine them digitally.
Digital illustration
I work with a Wacom Cintiq 27 QHD using Photoshop.
Highly diluted matt acrylic
I use the Flashe Matte acrylic in fine layers, a gentle watercolour effect which can be combined with a thicker and more textured approach.
Ink pen and Indian ink
I use a Tachikawa Inkpen and Talens ink.
Mixed media
Usually I mix matte acrylic with pen and pencil.
Collage
I really like this technique, the result feels special and works well for one off sophisticated images.
Awards and recognition
The Bookbag
“Julia Donaldson always works with the most exceptional illustrators and in Spinderella she has continued by finding another fantastic partner in Sebastien Braun. His illustrations stand out of the page and there is so much for children to look at.”
Book Depository
“This beautiful pop-up features a range of stunningly illustrated wild animals. Sebastien Braun’s rich and recognisable illustration introduces children to a zoo-and-a-half’s worth of animals and, of course, the prowling tiger.”
The Guardian
Toot and Pop! by Sebastien Braun
“I think this might be my new favourite book in the world! The drawings are so simple yet beautiful; I want to visit that harbour where everything is alive and pootling along with their various jobs.”
Winner - Sheffield Children’s Book Award
Can You Say it Too? Woof! Woof!
by Sebastien Braun
Booktrust Early Years Awards - Shortlisted
Braun's simple and sensitive picture book will reassure even the youngest readers. Glowing colours suffuse the pages, with the rich blues, warm golds and browns enveloping animals and readers alike. Stunningly illustrated, this is a beautiful celebration of motherhood.
Children’s book of the week, The Sunday Times. Kicking a Ball by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Sebastien Braun
”This book celebrates the joy of kicking a ball… in Braun’s traditional, cartoony images, which reward scrutiny. In the pictures, we find, for instance, a small child scratching a snooker table with a cue, a bear in a top hat, a joke about Damian Hirst and details that pinpoint dates: a Rubik’s cube, a calculator…”
Board books
Picture books
Sketches
Magazines
Educational books
Non-fiction
Characters
Activity Books
Middle grade fiction illustration
Poetry
Spinderella
'Raj and the best...' series
'Daddy Grizzle and Pip' series
Brave and The Fox
I love my home
Rock-a-bye Rumpus
SOS lovey!
Play with baby animals board book
A mouse year is wonderful
Mrs Owl's Forest School
Toot and Pop the tiny tug boat - animation
The Harbour Master - the man with a big heart and an ever bigger beard! Watch some of his best moments so far.
Sébastien Braun - Illustrator
As far as I can remember I always felt an intimate connection with images and their power. The power to bring pleasure; the power to fill gaps.
I enjoy using a wide range of techniques and styles, from traditional watercolour and acrylic painting to ink drawings and digital media. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work across a wide variety of commissions and my studio is now piled high with the results - board books, non-fiction titles and children’s picture books.
