Alexis Deacon is a writer and illustrator, his first book, Slow Loris, was published in 2002 and was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. In 2015 it was named one of the hundred best children's books of all time by Time magazine.
Since then, he has worked across ages and genres, from picture books such as Beegu and I Am Henry Finch to the three part graphic novel series, Curse of the Chosen. He has worked in collaboration with some of the best authors in children's literature and was the illustrator for Russell Hoban's last published story, Soonchild. From 2020-2022 he worked as the lead background designer on Hanna Barbera's cartoon series, The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe.
He has twice been shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and is a two time recipient of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books Award. In 2014 The River won the Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize. In 2008 he was chosen by Booktrust as one of the ten best new illustrators of the preceding decade.
In addition to his own practice, Alexis also teaches illustration at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and at Goldsmiths, University of London.