Denise Holmes is an award winning illustrator and designer with over 10 years of experience creating cute and happy illustrations for the children’s market, including picture books, wall art and surface design.

Denise grew up in the state shaped like a mitten. Her childhood was spent drawing and painting and doing all things creative. She graduated from The School of The Art Institute in 2003 with a BFA in photography. After graduating she began teaching herself illustration and design and has been freelancing professionally since 2007. Denise has illustrated 17 children’s books, licensed greeting cards and has had the pleasure of seeing her prints up at Crate & Barrel. In May 2019, she was the grand prize winner at the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference art showcase.

Today, Denise spends her time drawing in her home studio in Chicago, IL, where she lives with her husband and daughter. She loves exploring her city, collecting vintage children’s books, drinking too much coffee and doodling in sketchbooks.