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Our Ambassadors
The Larmer Tree Project is supported by a group of dedicated Ambassadors who share our commitment to enriching education and wellbeing through the creative arts. Our Ambassadors bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and influence to our work. They advocate for the vital role that arts, nature, and creativity play in our lives and their impact on our wellbeing.
We are grateful for their support and the difference they make to the young lives at the heart of our mission.
Abi Elphinstone
Abi Elphinstone grew up in Scotland where she spent most of her childhood running wild across the moors, hiding in tree houses and building dens in the woods. After being coaxed out of her tree house, she studied English at Bristol University and then worked as an English teacher in Tanzania, Berkshire and London. She is the bestselling author of Goodnight Silver (coming October 2026), the Ember Spark series, Sky Song, Saving Neverland, The Unmapped Chronicles (Everdark, Rumblestar, Jungledrop, The Crackledawn Dragon), The Dreamsnatcher trilogy and, for younger readers, The Snow Dragon and The Frost Goblin. When she's not writing, Abi works as a trustee for The Lamp of Lothian, speaks in schools about the transformative power of reading and writing, and travels the world looking for her next story. Her latest adventures include living with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia and dog-sledding across the Arctic. She lives in Scotland with her husband and three children.
Angela McAllister
Angela McAllister is a best-selling author of childrens' books for all ages. She writes picture books, early readers, fiction and retellings of folk tales from around the world. Her books, such as 'Leon and the Place Between' and 'Winter's Child', are widely used in schools and her stories from Shakespeare are a popular introduction to his plays. Her work has won many awards, including the Aesop Prize from the American Folklore Society.
A.F. Harrold
A.F. Harrold is an English poet who writes and performs for adults and children. Some of the things he makes (books, poems, faces) are funny, some are strange, awesome are sad, and many of them involve the privilege of working with amazing illustrators. He often visits schools, reading poems and running workshops and juggling ideas. He is the owner of many books, a handful of hats, a few good ideas and one beard. He lives in Reading with a stand-up comedian and two cats. The film of his book The Imaginary, illustrated by Emily Gravett was released on Netflix in July 2024.
Natasha Farrant
Natasha Farrant dreamed of being a writer ever since she stumbled into Narnia when she was ten years old. She is now the author of many books, has won several prizes and been translated into seventeen languages. If she suddenly stops listening halfway through a conversation, she’s not being rude, it just means she’s had an idea for a story. She enjoys drawing, singing and taking long walks in wild places. She lives in London in a house full of books with her family and a small black cat.
Martin Brown
Martin Brown is a bestselling author, cartoonist and illustrator best known as the illustrator behind the hugely successful Horrible Histories series. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he moved to the UK in the 1980s and has spent more than three decades bringing history, nature and storytelling to life through his distinctive, humorous illustrations
Working alongside author Terry Deary since the launch of Horrible Histories in 1993, Martin's artwork has helped engage millions of children with books, history and learning. He is also the author and illustrator of the acclaimed Lesser Spotted Animals series and Nell and the Cave Bear. Through his books, festivals and school events, Martin champions creativity and encourages children and families to discover the joy of drawing and reading. He lives in Dorset with his family.
Working alongside author Terry Deary since the launch of Horrible Histories in 1993, Martin's artwork has helped engage millions of children with books, history and learning. He is also the author and illustrator of the acclaimed Lesser Spotted Animals series and Nell and the Cave Bear. Through his books, festivals and school events, Martin champions creativity and encourages children and families to discover the joy of drawing and reading. He lives in Dorset with his family.
Elinor Bagenhal
Elinor Bagenhal started off her working life by being a professional musician, but in order to earn a living she worked in the children’s section of Hammicks bookshop in Covent Garden where she learnt so much about what excites children in the world of storytelling.
She quickly realised that being a professional musician was not the life for her so I got a job working at BBC Books followed by a book packager called Mathew Price where she learnt about publishing for children. She then worked in America for six months before returning to the UK to help set up two children’s lists, one of them being Bloomsbury where she was involved with the first book in the Harry Potter series.
25 years ago Elinor set up The Chicken House with Barry Cunningham and Rachel Hickman.
She has worked with schools and children of all ages to learn what kind of stories and methods of storytelling work best for them. As a result she has been involved in publishing stories that enchant, teach, reassure, challenge and support young people all over the world.
She has been involved in all aspects of publishing from commissioning authors and illustrators to project managing and buying book concepts as well as travelling all over the world to sell international rights and learning what works for children of all ages and different cultures.
As well as her life in books and music. She is very involved in the world of conservation, ecology, ornithology, astronomy and gardening and has a diploma in horticulture.
She quickly realised that being a professional musician was not the life for her so I got a job working at BBC Books followed by a book packager called Mathew Price where she learnt about publishing for children. She then worked in America for six months before returning to the UK to help set up two children’s lists, one of them being Bloomsbury where she was involved with the first book in the Harry Potter series.
25 years ago Elinor set up The Chicken House with Barry Cunningham and Rachel Hickman.
She has worked with schools and children of all ages to learn what kind of stories and methods of storytelling work best for them. As a result she has been involved in publishing stories that enchant, teach, reassure, challenge and support young people all over the world.
She has been involved in all aspects of publishing from commissioning authors and illustrators to project managing and buying book concepts as well as travelling all over the world to sell international rights and learning what works for children of all ages and different cultures.
As well as her life in books and music. She is very involved in the world of conservation, ecology, ornithology, astronomy and gardening and has a diploma in horticulture.
James Mayhew
James Mayhew is a prize-winning author, artist and storyteller whose books reflect his great advocacy of the arts and traditional storytelling for young children. He is the illustrator of the Mrs Noah books, written by Jackie Morris, and has written and illustrated
Once Upon A Tune, A Symphony Of Stories and My Book Of Classic Nursery Tales. When he isn't making books he is painting and storytelling with orchestras in the UK and internationally. He lives in Suffolk.
Once Upon A Tune, A Symphony Of Stories and My Book Of Classic Nursery Tales. When he isn't making books he is painting and storytelling with orchestras in the UK and internationally. He lives in Suffolk.
Piers Torday
Piers Torday is an award-winning and bestselling children's author, playwright and literacy advocate. He is best known for The Last Wild series, a powerful and imaginative collection of novels exploring friendship, courage and the natural world. His second book, The Dark Wild, won the prestigious Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, and his work has been translated into multiple languages and adapted for the stage. Other acclaimed titles include There May Be a Castle, The Lost Magician series, Midnight Treasure and Tree Thing.
As an Ambassador for the Larmer Tree Project, Piers is delighted to support opportunities for young people to explore their creativity, develop confidence and discover the transformative power of stories.
As an Ambassador for the Larmer Tree Project, Piers is delighted to support opportunities for young people to explore their creativity, develop confidence and discover the transformative power of stories.
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