Learn a bit about me
The Short Version
CINDY LANE loves to make things, especially books. She can be found most days splashing about in rock-pools, and paint puddles. When out exploring she observes and collects all sorts of things, transforming them into book illustrations in her seaside studio. Cindy has travelled the world giving talks and workshops, showing others how to enjoy being creative. She has lived East, West and Far North coast Australia, but now calls Perth home.
The Medium Version
CINDY LANE is a Perth-based creative, illustrator of nature storybooks, and occasional poet. She is known for her captivating watercolour artworks.
In 2021 she illustrated her first picture book Great White Shark, written by Claire Saxby and published by Walker Books Australia. Great White Shark won the Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Award 2022 Best Children’s Book, and was shortlisted for the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year Awards in the New Illustrator category.
In 2024, Cindy continued the underwater theme with Oceans at Night, written by Dr Vanessa Pirotta and published by CSIRO Publishing.
Cindy has illustrated three more stunning nature-themed picture books, publishing in 2025:
Quoll (out 2 July 2025), written by Christopher Cheng and published by Walker Books Australia
The Great Dawn Choir (out 1 August 2025), written by Sarah Speedie and published by CSIRO Publishing
Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder (out 23 September 2025), written by Tim Winton and published by Fremantle Press
Cindy has a passion for bringing out the artist in those who think they can’t draw or paint. She loves to share her creative techniques through workshops and online and has helped countless students overcome Perfection Paralysis and Blank Page Syndrome.
A nature lover since childhood, Cindy was awarded a Greenpeace Ambassadorship in 2017, sharing knowledge and inspiring positive action with her work. On her days off she likes to chat to the motorbike frogs in her garden.
The Longer Version
Hi, I’m Cindy, and I love making things, especially books. I run fun workshops and events where you get to create with me.
My first book collab was in Year 3 with my best friend. She was the author and I was the Illustrator. Coloured pencils were my Go To, as textas always bled through exercise book paper. Unfortunately I used to lick my coloured pencils to make them more vibrant, which meant they bled through the paper anyway!
“How long have you been illustrating?” is something I’m always asked. I remember drawing a black swan on a river facing a waterfall, from when I was about 3, and progressing to horses in school, then all of nature captured my imagination!
After school and uni I left art and illustration for a bit, exploring various careers : medical underwriter (lots of medical reports), actuarial assistant (lots of maths), commercial cook (lots of standing & stirring), working in an art store (lots of standing and spending my wages on art supplies), designing & manufacturing giftware (lots of glueing and packaging), and was even a Calligrapher (lots of ink spills) for a while.
I finally realised I loved drawing, painting and books more than anything, and decided that’s what I would do from now on!
I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Australia West chapter, the Australian Society of Authors and the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
I have am brand ambassador for select art supplies and home decor companies. Discount codes and more info HERE:
I like to work with all sorts of materials, both analogue and digital. Here are some of my favourites:
ANALOGUE : Watercolours are my first choice, followed closely by inks, pencils, pastels, gouache, acrylics and markers. Cotton watercolour papers and sketchbooks are what I reach for most days.
DIGITAL : Adobe Photoshop, a Wacom graphics tablet, an iPad Pro, the Procreate app, and I’ve just started using Rebelle, where you can paint watercolours that drip down the digital page!.
