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My First Year as a Bright Artist: Fátima Ordinola
last updated 21 July 2025
In this series, we interview Bright Artists who recently joined our Agency, to discover what the first part of their Bright journey was like. Read on to hear their journeys to being represented by Bright, and key advice they have for aspiring illustrators.
For this edition, we spoke to Fátima Ordinola, represented by Susan Penny. As an up-and-coming illustrator, her work has won Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrator’s Exhibition and her debut author-illustrated book Our Love, part of a multi-book deal with Post Wave Publishing was met with critical and commercial success. She loves to experiment with different mediums like ink, chalk pastels, gouache and collage combining them with digital technique as well.
How did you first hear about Bright?
I first heard about The Bright Agency when I visited the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2022. I remember it was an amazing experience getting to know more about the publishing industry at one the most important and biggest book fairs of the world. I was truly inspired by Bright’s talk about working with illustrators and authors from different backgrounds and seeing their work showcased in so many different ways.
A spread from Our Love
What was the joining process like?
Managing Agent Susan Penny sent me an email during my Masters in Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition Show at London in 2024 (with Cambridge School of Art). When I read her email I was so happy and excited to meet her and talk about my projects and dreams of being a picture book maker. We met in a café in London and we talked a lot about children’s books, creative process, and ideas I had about stories I wanted to write and illustrate. One of my projects caught her eye and I felt very proud and emotional. After agreeing representation terms, Susan became my Agent, and Bright my Agency, and I love my close relationship with them as it allows me to freely and enthusiastically share new ideas at every meeting.
“When I signed Fátima, we connected on her vision for book making, and I knew we had to find the right synergy with a publishing home too. Post Wave’s pre-emptive offer and their commitment were exactly what we were looking for and the partnership has continued to grow and flow beautifully.” - Fátima’s Agent, Susan Penny
A spread from Our Love
What’s one thing that happened in your first year with us that you didn’t expect?
I didn’t expect to get my debut picture book (Our Love, Post Wave Publishing) published as soon as I finished my studies and joined Bright. It all happened so fast and smoothly that I was swept into a creative rush right away. Seeing my book on different bookshops, instagram stories, reviews online and even on The Guardian, made me feel really proud. The weeks since signing with Post Wave and discussing future projects have been incredibly productive and I feel inspired to create more stories and work on improving my technique and storytelling.
The sequel to Our Love called Our Dreams will be published by Post Wave in 2026.
What advice would you give to other illustrators looking to join The Bright Agency?
My advice would be to work hard on building a strong portfolio with illustrations, stories and themes you really enjoy doing. Also, experiment with different materials and techniques. I think the more you practice, the more your skills will grow. In parallel, read, read and read everything! This will also give you an understanding of what’s out there in the children’s book industry. One of the things I love doing the most is going to my closest bookshop and visiting the children’s book section, I can spend hours getting inspired by new stories. And finally, share your work on an online platform like a website or social media, it’s an excellent way to receive feedback and build your personal brand.
A spread from Our Love
What has been your Bright High point so far?
The day I received my Our Love copies from Post Wave I was happily jumping around, smiling all day and sharing the news with my friends and family. It’s my 2025 highlight and I feel emotional everytime I look back at the time when I first arrived in the UK and felt uncertain about everything. Now I’m more confident about my work and excited to share more about the projects I’m working on.
Has there been a low point?
Being away from friends and family has been a daily challenge. There are times when I face a creative block and in those moments I wish I could have a cup of coffee or go for a walk with the people I love. However, I channel that longing into inspiration, driving me to work harder and develop authentic stories and characters.
A spread from Our Love
Looking to the future, what are you most excited about?
After I published my debut book I realised that the activities organised by Post Wave and Bright, such as visiting bookshops, signing copies, reading sessions and engaging with kids, are as exciting as creating the book itself. My current projects fill me with excitement and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
To work with Fátima, get in contact with her agent Susan Penny here.
Looking to submit your portfolio? Click here.