Lorena Carrington is an award-winning illustrator and writer based in regional Victoria, dedicated to a long-term career in children’s book and visual storytelling. Known for her intricate photographic montages, her work spans picture books, folklore & fairy tales, story collections, non-fiction, book cover design, and novels for young readers. Her love of working with others has brought about rewarding collaborations with writers, musicians, designers and other illustrators.
Lorena’s illustrations have earned her numerous accolades, including a CBCA Notable Book of the Year (Picture Book category), a May Gibbs Creative Time Fellowship, and the Australian Fairy Tale Society Award, underscoring her contribution to children’s literature and the arts.
Her work has been widely published, both in Australia and internationally. Her Australian publishers have included New Dawn Publishing, MidnightSun Publishing, Christmas Press, and Serenity Press, with rights sold internationally to Kane Miller (US) and Wydawnictwo Tadam (Poland). She has also been commissioned for book covers by publishers such as Transit Lounge, Swan River Press (Ireland), Eagle Books, and the Australian Fairy Tale Society.
Beyond publishing, Lorena regularly exhibits her art in galleries across Australia and is a sought-after speaker at literary and arts festivals. She frequently visits schools and libraries, offering engaging talks and workshops on illustration, storytelling, and book creation.
List of Books
For book details and purchase links, head to my Books page.
The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books with Lara Cain Gray (author) and Timothy Ide (co-illustrator) (2013, MidnightSun Publishing)
Leaf Letters as author/illustrator (2024, Christmas Press)
Kate Forsyth’s Long Lost Fairy Tales with Kate Forsyth (2024, New Dawn Publishing)
Secrets of the Good Fairy House with Sophie Masson (2023, Pardalote Press)
Satin with Sophie Masson (2023, MidnightSun Publishing)
Wayfarer Cards with Sophie Masson (2022, Pardalote Press)
Bird’s Eye View with Sophie Masson (2022, Pardalote Press)
Magical Tales of French Camelotwith Sophie Masson (2022, Serenity Press)
The Gardener Son, The Golden Bird and Other Tales of Gentle Young Menwith Kate Forsyth (2022, Serenity Press)
South of the Sun: Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century(co-editor and illustrator), (2021, Australian Fairy Tale Society and Serenity Press)
French Fairy Taleswith Sophie Masson (2020, Serenity Press)
Snow White Rose Red and Other Tales of Kind Young Women,with Kate Forsyth (2020, Serenity Press)
The Buried Moon and Other Tales of Bright Young Women with Kate Forsyth (2020 Serenity Press)
Sightings with Jennifer Lehmann; 2019.
Wiser Than Evening (editor and illustrator), (2018, Serenity Press)
Vasilisa the Wise and Other Tales of Brave Young Women with Kate Forsyth, (2017, Serenity Press)
Selected Exhibitions
I also exhibit my work in galleries around Australia. Here is a list of solo and small group shows.
2022: Conversing in Colour, with Kathy Landvogt and Margaret Landvogt
2021: Fairy Tales and Secret Gardens, Buda Historic Home, with Castlemaine State Festival
2020: Visualising Stories, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Sydney (with Liz Anelli, Tannya Harricks, Bethany MacDonald and Aura Parker)
2019: Wiser Than Evening, The Art Vault, Mildura
2019: Flights of Fantasy, Bendigo Living Arts Space (with Ulrike Barbara Von Radichevich and Milton Long)
2015: Once Upon a Time, Blarney Books, Port Fairy
2015: Light/Dark, Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer, Castlemaine, (with James McArdle & Jane Sanderson)
2015: Ever After, The Art Vault, Mildura
2014/15: Work in Progress (untitled), Togs Place, Castlemaine
2014: Stepping from the Shadows: Brave Girls of Fairy Tales, Bendigo Library
2013: Fairytales, Healing Well, Castlemaine
2013: A Winter’s Tale, Apple Annie’s Café, Castlemaine (with James McArdle)
2013: In Camera Nostra, in association with Castlemaine State Festival (with James McArdle)
2013: Vessels, in association with Castlemaine State Festival (with four other artists)
2012: Second Nature, with James McArdle, Stephen McLachlan Gallery, Melbourne
2011: Fruiting Bodies, Apple Annie’s Café, Castlemaine (with James McArdle)
2011: Once I Went, in association with Castlemaine State Festival (with four other artists)
2010: Fragments of Time, Togs Café and Gallery, Castlemaine
2009: The Willow Pattern, Revisited, in association with Castlemaine State Festival (with four other artists)
2002: Luz, Horsham Regional Art Gallery
2001: Reflection and Refraction: Light as Subject in Photography La Trobe University Bendigo (Honours Presentation)
Lorena Carrington 