Bia is a Brazilian-born illustrator and author based in East London. She was the recipient of the prestigious The Queen Elizabeth Trust scholarship to study a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, graduating as Highly Commended at The Macmillan Prize for Illustration (UK).
Her debut picture book, The Dream Book was published in the UK by Templar in 2023. It was very well received being longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize (UK), selected as The Times' Best Children's Books of the Summer and also selected at Society of Illustrators (NY), Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Awards (China) among others.
She is currently working on her second picture book with Templar to be published in 2025. Bia’s Master course project House Hunting will be also published in 2025 by Quarto imprint Happy Yak followed by a second book. Meanwhile Bia illustrated her first non-fiction book Mama Mammals published in 2023 by Cicada Books. And has been busy illustrating an early readers four-book series: Doddle & Dot to be published by Oxford University Press in 2025.
Bia previously worked on many exciting projects as a book designer for Flying Eye/Nobrow before taking the leap and starting to write her own stories. Her interest for design brings a keen eye for detail, composition, hand lettering and typography to her books. Her vibrant tropical influences are reflected in the bold use of colours and textures. She finds inspiration in little details of everyday life, turning them into pieces set in a fun atmosphere, using humour and quirky characters in a visually playful approach.
Bia’s books have already been translated and sold to countries in Europe and Asia.
