Karien has always had a passion for fairy tales, dragons, witches and all types of mystical and fantastic beings. She also loves to sketch and combined this with her huge appetite for the mystery and fantasy of fairytales.
Inspired by authors such as Tolkien, CS Lewis and JK Rowling and illustrators such as Chris Riddell, she took an interest in illustrations for children.

She studied at London Art College for a diploma in Children’s Book Illustration, which she passed with a distinction. She also has been tutored by Mark Mitchell, an acclaimed children’s illustrator in the USA. She has worked with various educational publishers in South Africa. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Karien works in Artrage and Photoshop.