Chloe Savage is the author-illustrator of The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish which received four starred reviews. She earned her BA in TV and film set design from Cardiff University and her MA is in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, in England. She worked for a number of years in opera, film, and television, and while doodling on call sheets, found her way to a great love of illustration and storytelling. Chloe Savage lives in England.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today Chloe, we’re so excited to have you! Firstly, congratulations on the huge success of your debut picture book The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish! It explores universal themes of persistence, resilience and self-belief in a truly unique way. What was the inspiration behind this story and its arctic setting?
The theme of failure is deeply inspired by my own life experiences, which taught me to be persistent and resilient. These themes are more important than ever for all of us. The first Jellyfish I ever doodled was on a call sheet while I was still working in film. My sister was working in Thailand at the time, and was messaging me pictures of a lagoon. I so badly wanted to be there too, and so I started drawing jellyfish on scripts and call sheets, they would be solving the problems of the day or participating in whatever I was doing. Perhaps I was just very cold, but it was always an Arctic Jellyfish, the icy landscapes always felt so appealing to me as something wonderful to paint.
You wear the hats of both author and illustrator, I’m curious to know what comes to you first when you’re starting a new story – the images or the text? Or do they evolve simultaneously?
The words and the pictures very much come simultaneously for me, they are so completely interdependent and hard to separate. My notebooks are a scrawl of scribbles with words or phrases, usually on sticky notes or on scraps of paper which I have grabbed at random times when an idea strikes. The development dummy books are very much the same. It is such a fun part of the book making process when it’s all wide open possibilities and the job is to be playful with how the words and the pictures interact.
Your illustrations are so vivid and invite children to pore over intricate details, particularly in the cross section of the ship! How long does it take you to complete each spread?
The cross-sections take a long time, and the fine detail is physically demanding, so I usually try to take breaks from them. It might take 3 days to paint, but there are weeks’ worth of work in the planning and research for the details. Each double spread is about 2 full days of work for the final art, if I have a really good colour rough already in place. As drying time is so long, particularly in the winter as I have no heating in my studio, I usually have a few paintings wet and drying at the same time. It is important to let the layers dry fully through the thickness of the paper before beginning the next layer or the colours muddle. Attacking it with a hair dryer causes its own issues with the drying paint. Though it is very tempting to hurry things along.
Your next book, The Search for Carmella (Releasing 4th Feb 2025 in North America), also features a marine biologist on an oceanic quest. What draws you to the mystical and mythical creatures of the deep, and do you have a favourite?
I am deeply inspired by the connection between science and wonder, where the two ideas meet is a place of magic, and I love exploring this in my work. The reality is there is still so much to be discovered in our seas, and to apply some imagination to all those possibilities is too tempting.
I have too many favourite deep sea creatures. My special favourites would have to be Siphonophores, or a Gulper Eel, what a completely magnificent thing to be.
Can you tell us a bit about your next project? Will we be heading back to the ocean or exploring somewhere new?
My third book, The Search for our Cosmic Neighbours, is coming out in September 2025 (UK). It follows Commander Julia’s adventure into space to try and solve one of the greatest mysteries of our universe: “are we alone?” The story is about communication, frustration, kindness to strangers and intergalactic diplomacy.
The book I have just started working on is set in a jungle …
Head over to our Youtube Channel for some bonus questions with Chloe, and read a review of The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfishhere.
YOUNG ADULTING 