Johanna Basford

"Consider trading in your yoga mat for a set of markers and peruse the gorgeous gardens of Basford's imagination"

Johanna Basford is an illustrator and ink evangelist who creates intricate and hand-drawn illustrations rooted in the flora and fauna that surrounds her home in rural Scotland.

Johanna graduated in 2005 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee with a degree in Printed Textiles.

What type of books does Johanna Basford create?

She is an illustrator who produces intricate, hand-drawn colouring and activity books with detailed ink illustrations, often built around treasure-hunt elements.

What themes and motifs appear across her work?

Her books draw on flora and fauna and natural scenes such as gardens, jungles, and oceans, plus seasonal or festive motifs in titles like Johanna's Christmas.

Which book is a good place to start with her work?

Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest are widely regarded as accessible starting points and are among her best-known colouring activity books.

Are her books meant to be read in a particular order or are they standalone?

Most of her titles are standalone colouring and activity books and can be enjoyed in any order; some have spin-off formats such as pocket editions or postcard packs.

In what formats are Johanna Basford's books available?

Her work is commonly published in paperback colouring-book form and also appears in alternative formats such as postcard books and pocket-sized editions.