Aileen Crossley Author & Illustrator

Aileen Crossley is an award-winning author/illustrator and animator from Dublin, with an MA Illustration from Falmouth University. She is a member of the Black Church Print Studio, where she explores lithography alongside her illustration work. With her animation work, Aileen won two IDI awards in 2021 - Best Short Animated Film and Emerging Designer Award for her animated short 'Wishing Well', for Paul Hourican. 'Henny is Stuck' is Aileen's debut picture book. It has been a labour of love for Aileen and through its development the design work she created for Henny was long-listed for the Unpublished Picture Book Exhibition in 2020 and 2021, and a finalist at the 2019 Bologna Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition. Aileen said: "I use my design, illustration, animation and videography skills on a daily basis. My communication design degree specialised in illustration and I love to bring this practice into my work wherever possible. I was thrilled to be awarded two Irish Design Industry awards, including Emerging Designer for a stop-motion music video I made using sand. I always strive to bring original storytelling to my work to make it more impactful and meaningful. When my work connects people, I feel happy and fulfilled."