On the other hand, if I'm not drawing I feel I'm missing something. It's a little soul destroying when it feels like you're just feeding the bin. For every illustration in the book there's way too many that have gone wrong. Also the execution of it – I never get it right straightaway. Sitting on my own all day for 12 hours a day is really difficult – I’m quite fidgety. What do you find difficult about illustrating? Bloomsbury has been very patient and willing to try a lot of different things.

When I find, it will make life so much easier because everyone will know what I'm going to do. I've adopted a scattergram approach and lots of different styles appeared in book 1. I think the only way you get better is to do things that terrify you a bit and this is without a doubt the most frightening commission you could get. I got a call from my agent who said: 'You'd better be sitting down for this – I've got Harry Potter for you,” and not just the covers, she meant all 7 books. My first real full-length book was Monster Calls, which was by Patrick Ness and based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd. How did you first get involved in illustrating the Harry Potter books? What had you previously worked on? Here we chat to Jim about his creative process and the ups and downs of illustrating such an iconic and globally recognized phenomenon. He has inspired a new generation of readers through his work, and reminded original fans how truly magical the world J.K.

The detail and passion that sits within the pages becomes fully realized when talking to Jim, who is dedicated to finishing all 7 books. With books 1 to 3 published, Jim is currently hard at work on the 4th, The Goblet of Fire. His work is the star of Bloomsbury’s new illustrated editions of the Harry Potter books, which have earned him recognition from all over the world. For the last few years award-winning illustrator Jim Kay has spent his time working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to reimagine the wizarding world in illustrated form.

Harry potter half blood prince jim kay