{{short description|British writer and illustrator}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox writer | name = Kate Pankhurst | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|2007|27|07}} --> | birth_place = | occupation = Writer and illustrator | language = English | nationality = British | alma_mater = University of Central Lancashire | genre = Picture books | subject = <!-- or: | subjects = --> | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = | module = | website = {{URL|www.katepankhurst.com}} }} '''Kate Pankhurst''' is a British writer and illustrator, known for a series of children's picture books. She won second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.
==Early life== Kate Pankhurst was raised in Liverpool, England.<ref name="yorkshirepost">{{cite news|title=Illustrator draws inspiration from women who changed the world|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/illustrator-draws-inspiration-from-women-who-changed-the-world-1-8110654|access-date=18 November 2017|work=Yorkshire Post|date=7 September 2016|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132910/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/illustrator-draws-inspiration-from-women-who-changed-the-world-1-8110654|url-status=dead}}</ref> She later credited an independent bookshop that she passed on the way to school as introducing her to books.<ref name=open/> Pankhurst was inspired by an issue of British comic ''The Beano'' to create her own comic, and after selling copies to her school friends, decided that she wanted to work in illustration when she grew older. Initially she sought to become a shoe designer, but while undertaking Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at the University of Central Lancashire in illustration, she realised that she could work as a children's book illustrator.<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=About|date=14 October 2014|url=https://www.katepankhurst.com/about/|publisher=Kate Pankhurst.com|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref>
==Career== After winning second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration,<ref name="about"/> she began working on the Mariella Mystery Investigates series. This was the published work which Pankhurst both wrote and illustrated. The series was acquired by Plum Pudding Illustration.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Charlotte|title=Orion Children's acquires Pankhurst series|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/orion-childrens-acquires-pankhurst-series|access-date=18 November 2017|work=The Bookseller|date=17 July 2012}}</ref> She subsequently published through Bloomsbury.<ref name=open>{{cite news|last1=Wood|first1=Heloise|title=Bloomsbury illustrators open up their sketchbooks|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/bloomsbury-illustrators-reveal-how-create-work-569666|access-date=18 November 2017|work=The Bookseller|date=14 June 2017}}</ref>
Her first non-fiction work ''Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World'' led Pankhurst to discover that she was distantly related to suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, whom she featured in the book. Although she thought for a period that there was no connection, another family member confirmed the link through her paternal line. Pankhurst said that she had enjoyed promoting lesser known stories of women in the book, such as Gertrude Ederle and her crossing of the English Channel.<ref name="yorkshirepost"/> As part of promoting the book, she spoke at schools and talked of her writing process,<ref>{{cite news|title=Descendent of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurt visits Castle Newnham School|url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/descendent-of-suffragette-emmeline-pankhurt-visits-castle-newnham-school/story-30336308-detail/story.html|access-date=18 November 2017|work=Bedfordshire on Sunday|date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pupils Hear Story From Descendent of Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst|url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/pupils-hear-story-from-descendent-of-suffragette-emmeline-pankhurst-1-7972076|access-date=19 January 2021|work=Bedford Today|date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522190800/http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/pupils-hear-story-from-descendent-of-suffragette-emmeline-pankhurst-1-7972076|archive-date=2017-05-22}}</ref> as well as appearing at the WayWord festival in Chester.<ref>{{cite news|title=WayWord festival returns for February half term|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/wayword-festival-returns-february-half-12449435|access-date=18 November 2017|work=Chester Chronicle|date=15 January 2017}}</ref> A follow-up book was due to be published in February 2018.<ref name=open/>
In 2021 it was announced a new musical based on the book would be opening in Southampton in November. The show includes songs by songwriter Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo and a book by Chris Bush (''Standing at the Sky's Edge'') and follows Jade who decides to leave class to meet some of the most iconic women from history such as Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and, of course, Emmeline Pankhurst.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-19 |title=New musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World to premiere this autumn |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/new-musical-fantastically-great-women-who-changed-the-world-to-premiere-this-autumn_53832/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-15 |title=Cast for Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World musical world premiere announced |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-for-fantastically-great-women-who-changed-the-world-musical-world-premiere-announced_54911/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> The show's UK tour started in 2021 and continued until 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World to return for new tour |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/fantastically-great-women-who-changed-the-world-to-return-for-new-tour_1507838/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In addition to working as an illustrator, Pankhurst also works with teachers and children to share and inspire a love for reading and the stories of notable women.<ref>"[https://www.katepankhurst.com/about/ About"] ''Kate Pankhurst.com.'' Retrieved 2 March 2022.</ref>
==Awards and honors== Pankhurst won second place in the 2002 Macmillan Prize for Picture Book Illustration.<ref name="about"/>
Her name is one of those featured on the sculpture ''Ribbons'', unveiled in 2024.<ref name="list">{{cite web |title=383 Inspirational Women of Leeds |url=https://www.ribbons-sculpture-leeds.co.uk/women |website=Ribbons Sculpture Leeds |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-date=23 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823171410/https://www.ribbons-sculpture-leeds.co.uk/women |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c14821gz1e6o|title=Leeds: Ribbons sculpture celebrates city's inspiring women|date=October 12, 2024|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Pankhurst lives in Leeds with her family, and creates her books in a studio located in a former spinning mill.<ref>[https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/kate-pankhurst/3175 "Kate Pankhurst"]''Pan Macmillan.com.'' Retrieved 2 March 2022.</ref> She has a dalmatian named Olive.<ref name="about"/>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Portal-inline |Children's literature}} *{{official website|www.katepankhurst.com}} *[https://fantasticallygreatwomenthemusical.com/ Fantastically Great Women musical official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pankhurst, Kate}} Category:Living people Category:British children's book illustrators Category:British women children's book illustrators Category:English illustrators Category:Alumni of the University of Lancashire Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Writers from Liverpool