AUTHOR, ILLUSTRATOR, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

When not drawing and writing, Karen is a full-time graphic designer and owner of HAPPYFISH DESIGN. Though professionally she has been a designer for over 23 years, she started dreaming and creating from tiny tot-hood.

She was inspired by her grandpa in England whose oil paintings were hung throughout the house. He would mail illustrated stories hand-written on tissue-thin royal airmail paper. Even though he passed when she was a few years old, she felt a bond with him through his artwork.

By second grade, she declared in a journal that when she grew up she would be a book illustrator. As a quiet, dreamy, introvert her favorite activity was to lie on the 1970s spiral rag rug in front of the fireplace and draw on her thick sketchpad and write fanciful sagas about hidden worlds found in the hole in her garden. She and her neighbor even tried to dig this hole with the encouragement of mum and dad. She was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In high school, she explored graphic design, photography, and fine art. She began an art career program that would prepare her portfolio for acceptance into the Emily Carr University of Art + Design. After one year there, she quickly decided that graphic design was “too boring,” and that she wasn’t angst-ridden enough to do well in fine art! Her pursuit to be accepted into the highly competitive Interior Design program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University began with a new portfolio filled with textile design, drawing, and ceramic arts. She took a year-long hand drafting course as well. She was accepted and completed her Interior Design diploma, and Bachelor of Applied Design degree with Honors Distinction.

After graduation, she was lined up with job leads for a career in Interior Design. However, that summer God had another plan for her. While vacationing on Maui she met her future husband in the hot tub at Papakea! Fast forward a few years, married… and quickly became busy with full-time internet development work and graphic design projects. Even though this wasn’t her plan, graphic design fell into her lap. In over two decades, she has not spent one dime on advertising and has had a constant stream of projects. Busy with client work, raising a family, and homeschooling her kids – she would sneak in fun side projects when inspiration struck. Now that the kids are teenagers and entering college, she has realized how important it is to set aside time every day to create simply for relaxation and fun!!

Additionally, her love for reading and English literature grew with their homeschooling experience. For a few years, (on the side very part-time!) she has taught over 4,000 ESL classes for students in China, as well as a reading program for American students. Her passion for reading, storytelling, artwork, and book design has culminated in the birth of this website to share her new projects and books.