Rebecca J Palmer
Welcome to my site!
My glittery little city is Perth in Western Australia.
Author Illustrator Bio
Hi and I’m pretty happy that you’re here! So here’s a bit about me and my creative life in West ‘Straylia!’
I drew my first banana at 18 months. This work inspired me to follow a life of art making, storytelling and meaning of life questioning by becoming a graphic designer/illustrator in the advertising industry and then teaching design and humanities units at Universities and Colleges in WA and Queensland.
Two beautiful daughters later, I decided I liked children after all and became a primary teacher. I love teaching because it is so creative. It’s all about problem solving and idea generating and I’m lucky to know so many inspiring teachers and students! I also write teacher’s notes for cool places like Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and The School Magazine. My students have been keen to follow my journey as an emerging author/illustrator, through the manuscripts rejections, the weeping and gnashing of teeth, the dusting off and the stepping up again. It’s certainly been a learning curve for all. (You can see the results of this process by clicking the link for my SCBWI portfolio at the bottom of this page). Both my daughters are now grown up and artists themselves and my social media icon is designed (and regularly updated on my birthday) by Amber Leigh Palmer. See her Instagram @theparanoidpanther
As a print maker, I create hand tinted etchings and show my students how to celebrate those ‘happy accidents’ that always happen when experimenting with mark making, because after all, mistakes are really just part of learning.
I still like bananas.
Awards and grants
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) Culture and the Arts (WA) Creative Development Program
Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) Mentorship program with author and artist, Liliana Stafford
Education and qualifications
Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma in Education (Tertiary & Adult) Murdoch University
Postgraduate Diploma in Design (Ecodesign) Curtin University
Bachelor of Arts in Design Curtin University
