Karen Wall is a freelance designer and illustrator. Together with her husband, Jim Helmore she has created many picture books including the award winning Stripy Horse series, Letterbox Lil, which won the Sheffield Book Prize and the very messy Oh No, Monster Tomato! Her books have been co-editioned in many countries around the world including USA, Canada, Brazil, China Portugal and Indonesia. Karen studied printed textile design at Duncan of Jordanstone College, working for over ten years as a designer and design manager before becoming freelance. She lives in South East London with her husband Jim and daughter Nina.