13 November 2025

IBBY Mini Masterpieces fundraiser auction is live from 14 November to 28 November 2025.

Tomorrow the IBBY Mini Masterpieces fundraising auction will open for bidding and will remain open from 14 – 28 November! The postcard sized artworks have been donated by wonderful Australian illustrators and bidding starts at $75. You can browse the items for auction and register to bid here. Below are two of my offerings and they each come with their own personal micro-fiction. (There are also three dip pen and ink sketches of mine up for auction, that were inspired by my visit to a local pet parade for reference material for a book I am illustrating. More on that later.)

You can see more images of these two and other ‘Party Animals’ over at my new profile on Instagram @judywatsoncollage and follow along for more as I’ll be adding small works on paper or using paper in the coming months. I’ll also be adding a shop to this website to sell them directly. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

Please consider supporting the important work of IBBY Australia! 🙏

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization which helps to build bridges to international understanding through children’s books. IBBY is committed to the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the United Nations in 1990.

Below are two links to guide people to relevant information about IBBY’s stance on Gaza and support for children in Palestine. We should all be conscious of where our money goes in this regard.

IBBY Children in Crisis: Gaza libraries

IBBY Statement on the ongoing violations of children’s rights in
Gaza

1 September 2025

Hallozeen Swap

Two happy things: art swaps and zines. This year I decided to roll both together and sign up for the Hallozeen Swap organised by Sticky Institute as part of their annual Halloween Festivities. This means that I will provide 10 copies of a new spooky themed zine to Sticky Institute by early October, and in return I will receive 10 zines by other participants. I’m excited! Let the spooky doodling begin…

1 September 2025

Just announced SCBWI Illustrator prize

I’m delighted to be listed as Highly Commended in the Established Illustrator Category for this annual prize, initiated by SCBWI Australia East and funded by Copyright Agency. Many thanks go to the incredibly hard-working SCBWI Australia East team for applying for this funding out of a dedicated concern for supporting picture book illustrators. Susanne Gervay, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, Deborah Abela and Margaret Roc – you are absolute legends. Thanks also to judges Clair Hume, Victoria Selvaggio and Erica Wagner for your time and expertise.

You can read the full judges report here. The judges had this to say about my work in progress Even Alligators.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Judy Watson
The judges see much potential in Judy’s story ‘Even Alligators’ which features an eccentric family dealing with various wild animals settling down to live with them. The humour in this work is thoughtfully child-centred with much agency given to its sweet ukelele-playing protagonist. The visuals are full of mischievous animals and a plucky child trying to save their distracted family members from being eaten by carnivorous plants and boa constrictors.  

Judy’s extensive and exquisite folio showcases a masterful illustrative skillset. The visual approaches she is experimenting with are exciting and with further story development, this project could be a standout.

4 August 2025

Second edition of Hazel’s Treehouse now in bookshops.

Just in time for Book Week 2025, Hazel is back in stores. To celebrate, I’ve make a handy guide for a super easy book week costume. You can check it out and download a cute printable of Tiny the honey possum here.

1 June 2025

The Australian School Library Association conference was fabulous!

Thanks for having me ASLA! Delegates, would you like to have the web pages of the SCBWI speakers all in one place? Download the pdf below and simply click on any of our faces to go to our websites.

28 May 2025

I’m so thrilled to be speaking at the ASLA conference in Geelong at the end of May!

I’ll be travelling with eight other author and illustrator members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) to give a team presentation to some of my favourite people in the world – school librarians! We have only eight minutes each to speak, and I have too much to say. So I’ll be showing lots of pictures and speaking fast.

If you’re one of the school librarians attending the conference and you’re looking for teaching resources you can go to the ‘free downloads’ tab above, or click this link to go there directly.

May 2025

I’m so pleased to announce that Hazel’s Treehouse is being reprinted!

Hazel’s Treehouse was published on the 1 November 2024, and it was gobbled up so lovingly, so quickly that bookshops sold out. Thanks to the efforts of author Zanni Louise and overwhelming support from bookshops, librarians and customers, Walker are re-printing and new stock will be available in stores in August 2025, but you can place your pre-order now at your local bookshop.

March 2025

New Picture Book with Kyle Mewburn: Jo and the NO
Out now from Dirt Lane Press, an imprint of Westwords

This book was such an adventure to illustrate. I looked deep inside myself to investigate my own NO and find the courage to leave it behind. Does everyone have a NO? I think so. You can head over to the Jo and the NO page on my site to read reviews, download teachers’ notes and find out more about the book.

 

A gentle fable about overcoming our resistance to the unknown.

Jo has come across a No. It will not let them pass, no matter how hard they try to get under, over, through or around it. How will Jo overcome the No?

KYLE MEWBURN is one of New Zealand’s most eclectic and successful writers. From multi-layered picture books to laugh-out-loud junior fiction series and a revealing memoir, her titles have been translated into eighteen languages and won a multitude of awards, including NZ Children’s Book of the Year.

JUDY WATSON is a Melbourne illustrator and mixed- media artist who uses a range of wet and dry media and printmaking techniques on paper, bringing everything together in Photoshop. She has illustrated over twenty books which have been shortlisted for and won several awards.

You can order the book here or at your local bookstore.

Booksellers, the book is currently being distributed by Peribo. You can order copies here. Or you can contact Westwords directly to arrange copies via Michael Campbell.