At The Sound of Picture BooksTM we have the pleasure of working with many accomplished authors, illustrators and musicians, with Matt Ottley’s compositions and creative process at the core. Visit our Repertoire page to see some of the authors we have worked with.
MATT OTTLEY: Co-Director | Founder
Artist | Author | Composer
Matt is one of Australia’s most highly-awarded creators. As an artist, author and composer, his unique ability to merge art forms led him to conceive The Sound of Picture Books.
With more than 40 picture books to his name Matt has won numerous awards, including the CBCA’s Picture Book of the Year Award, the Prime Ministers Literary Award, The World Fantasy Award, and the Queensland Premier’s Award for YA Literature. In 2024 Matt was the illustrator nominee for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award.
As a composer, and an Endorsed Yamaha musician, Matt has written scores for many of his picture books, which have been performed by orchestras and musicians across Australia and internationally.
www.mattottley.com
TINA WILSON (OAM): Co-Director | Narrator
Artist | Author
An author/illustrator herself, Tina has a passion for creativity in all its modes, moving between painting, drawing, writing, publishing, narrating, project management and performing.
Tina has worked as a freelance artist for publishers and clients across Australia as well as creating Australia’s third richest portraiture prize, the Lester Prize. She was its executive director for ten years and was awarded the City of Perth Premier’s Active Citizenship Award for her contribution to the arts. In 2018 Tina was honoured to become Patron for the Lester Prize and in 2023 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Tina has created a unique series of books called ‘Monkey’s Great Adventures’ where a little soft toy comes to life – featuring knitted characters by Tina’s mum and photography from all around the world.
www.tinawilsonartist.com
JENNIE ORCHARD: Acting Literary Agent
Jennie has been involved with the world of books and publishing for more than four decades, initially in London, later in Australia and Asia (Japan and Hong Kong). Since 2002 she has been actively involved in the non-profit sector, with a particular focus on Room to Read and more recently U-Go (both organisations founded by John Wood, supporting literacy and girls’ education). For a number of years, also, she has been an advisor to the Hong Kong International Literary Festival.
Jennie’s first book was the anthology she curated, The Gifts of Reading, inspired by an essay by Robert Macfarlane and her second anthology, The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation, was released in 2025.