On the Saturday of Manx Litfest, you’ll find Clara Vulliamy at the Family Library, talking and drawing all things ‘The Dog Squad’. This will be a free event, no need to book.

Clara was born in West London, the daughter of author illustrator Shirley Hughes and architect John Vulliamy. Her first experience of making pictures was being allowed to use up her mother's paints at the end of the day, which was, Clara says, 'like scraping the icing out of the bowl after baking.'

Clara studied Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art, The Ruskin and The Royal Academy. After graduating she began illustrating in newspapers and magazines, and doing a weekly cartoon in The Guardian.

 It was when she had a family of her own that she started writing and illustrating childrens books and says she's been hooked every since. She's made about 30 books, including The Bear with Sticky Paws, Lucky Wish Mouse and Martha and the Bunny Brothers.

 In 2013 Clara launches her very first book with her mother, Dixie O'Day in the Fast Lane, the first time the mother and daughter duo collaborated on a book. The joyous story follows the adventures, and japes and scrapes of two dog characters Dixie and Percy behind the wheel of their shiny red sports car.

 Clara lives in Twickenham with her husband, her two children and a gang of cheeky guinea pigs.

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