Caroline Wakeman

The art of storytelling has been an obsession for Caroline since her early childhood when she would read and recite her favorite stories to anyone or anything that would listen! Fast forward a good few years, and you’ll see her passionately reading her published children’s books aloud – again to anyone or anything that will listen! Having worked in the Children’s Publishing industry for over 20 years, Caroline LOVES to find a great children’s book manuscript and aid the author in turning it into a future blockbuster! Along with her experience of commissioning great illustrators, she marries artwork and text to create the perfect synergy, which will captivate young minds and imagination. Caroline is excited to help ITSme Learning start offering more resources for authors, as well as illustrators.

Lil Chase

Elizabeth (Lil) Chase is one of our writing mentors! Lil has 15 years experience of editing and creating stories for some of the biggest selling children’s books around the world. She’s an author in her own right, having written 13 novels to date, many of which have sold internationally. She’s never happier than when polishing a manuscript to perfection. She is so excited to share her knowledge and insights with our writing mentees.

Amy Milligan

Amy is the Global Manager for Illo Agency. She loves to surround herself with incredibly talented people, whether their creative focus is photography, illustration, motion graphics, or typography. Being a part of the creative process keeps her driven and excited to see what brief is waiting around the corner. Amy has worked for advertising agencies and illustration agencies and has a great balance of communicating briefs toIllo’s amazing freelance artists. She also has experience working directly with creatives to launch design-led products in retail environments. She has successfully placed products into the Design Museum, Southbank Centre, Harrods, and the V&A Museum of Childhood. For Amy, it is all about building lasting relationships with clients and creative collaborators. Working closely with the Illo artists to ensure project briefs and timings are met. Liaising with agencies and clients to ensure Illo is meeting and exceeding their expectations.

Kate Powell

Kate is the Global Manager of Astound US Inc. As an artist herself, she has the eye and experience to develop artists’ portfolios so that they may achieve their career goals. She has launched novice illustrators to become award-winners, collaborating with some of the most prestigious imprints in children’s publishing. Kate has also launched exciting projects such as middle-grade fiction series Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad with National Geographic Kids and introduced illustration opportunities for Disney’s Little Golden Books. Kate has a BA in communication and media studies from DePauw University, an MFA from the University of Essex, and previous work background in arts education. She believes in the inspirational influence of illustration and the importance of these powerful messages reaching young readers around the world.

Joanne Cave

Jo has over 20 Years of experience in the Greeting Card industry, working both as an Illustrator and Design Manager. She spent the first 13 years of her career working in-house at UK Greetings (formerly Watermark Publishing), where she learned what makes successful, commercial design. As Design Manager, she planned and briefed designs for major UK retailers such as Clintons and Paperchase. More recently, she spent the past 7 years working as an Advocate-represented artist, creating designs across various categories for clients all over the world. Her background means she’s familiar with managing projects from both ends of the spectrum and has empathy for both clients and artists alike. Jo is passionate about all things illustration and stationery-related and is thrilled to be a lecturer for our mentorship program.

Aurora Barlam

Aurora is a senior agent at Astound US Inc. Her background in illustration and education gives her special insight into both the creative process and target audience for children’s products, especially when she’s helping artists write and illustrate her favorite medium—graphic novels. Aurora has a degree in illustration from RISD and then worked as a painting and drawing instructor. She keeps learning herself, including completing the Comics Experience course Comic Editing and Project Management. She represented illustrators for the publications Major Makes History (HarperCollins) and The Seed of Compassion (Penguin Random House, Kokila) and loves helping illustrators develop their portfolios.

Adolfo Sanchez Flores

Adolfo is the EU Manager at Advocate Art. He graduated from Murcia University in Spain, with a degree in Art History and a post-graduate certificate in education from Valencia University. Since graduating, he has worked in a variety of roles in the arts, including art handler, curator, and art advisor. As the EU Manager, Adolfo works to connect illustrators with clients children’s publishing, toys, and game clients in the EU and Latin America. In addition to his work at Advocate Art, Adolfo is an independent curator for contemporary art projects and is excited to help ITSme Learning start releasing videos in Spanish.

Harry Bloom

Harry Bloom is the UK Manager of Advocate Art Limited. He grew up in Warwickshire, a stone’s throw from the ‘Heart of England’ before moving down South to study illustration at the University of Brighton. Studying there, amongst so many talented creatives, cemented his ambition to work within the Arts, so after graduating he moved to London to pursue a career in Illustration. Harry worked as a freelance creative alongside a position in Fashion Management until he was able to work as an illustrator full-time. As a full-time illustrator, Harry worked with clients around the globe, on projects from Apps to Advertising and releasing her own series of Children’s books. Harry is now keen to use the skills and experience he gained to help guide, support, and empower other artists. He loves collaborating with creatives and clients alike and is excited by the opportunity to help bring their projects to life. The industry is hugely rewarding and Harry is both thrilled to be a part of the talented team at Advocate Art and now working with the ITSme Mentorship artists.

Vickie Savanella

Vickie is an artist agent in the US office. She has a degree in illustration, but the majority of her career has been spent in design and project management for children’s products, apparel, and toys, working with both licensed and private label clients. Vickie has a deep-seated love of illustration and loves to help bring beautiful art to the world! Since working at Advocate Art, she has had the opportunity to be a part of some fantastic projects, such as Vivienne in Paris, illustrated by Emanuela Manello for Mascot Books, which won the Mom’s Choice Award and was featured on NBC, This is the Sun illustrated by Evelyn Andrya for Science Naturally, which won the Creative Child Book of the Year Award and Tillywig Toy and Media Award, and The Wisemen Who Found Christmas illustrated by Diane le Feyer for Sophia Institute Press, which was featured on Fox News and became an Amazon best seller! Vickie currently resides in the Hudson Valley, just outside NYC, with her two cats. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, long hikes, needle felting, and spotting funky fashion around the city. She deeply enjoys helping emerging talents to reach their full potential.

Alice Morentorn

Alice is the lead agent in France for Advocate Art SL. She graduated from Emile Cohl’s School of Arts in France with a degree in academic drawing, multimedia, and illustration. Alice first worked in the video game industry as a 2D and 3D artist before embracing the book industry as an author and illustrator. Since then, she has worked on dozens of children’s books giving her inside knowledge on every step of creating a book, from knowing how to deal with all the stakeholders in the publishing chain to processing layouts, designs, narratives, or deadlines. Alice has been collaborating with major publishers all around the world for decades, including some of the most famous French historical organizations such as Le château de Versailles and the Gadagne Museum. Additionally, she has spent the last 10 years teaching illustration and academic drawing at her former art school in France. This has given her the keys to efficiently assist artists and help them meet the requirements to make every project a successful one. With a passion for new technologies, 3D, video games, concept art, board games, and books, Alice is keen on keeping an eye open for new forms of art, trends, and new talents!

Amanda Hendon

Amanda is Advocate’s Global Manager, having been with them since 2016. She received her BFA in Illustration from Parsons in 2015 which helped her hone a keen eye when briefing artists; a self-professed visual person, art and aesthetics are something she takes pride in being knowledgeable in, and she is always on the lookout for the latest trends and styles. Amanda loves being able to help nurture and grow artists’ talent, as well as being able to link up the right client, artist, and project – especially when she gets to see the final result on store shelves. Key clients include: American Greetings, Hallmark, Running Press, Design Design, Scholastic and Dinardo. In her free time, Amanda likes traveling, reading (mostly fairytales and myths), window shopping at NYC’s premier boutiques, baking, and spending time with my Chihuahua.

Atlanta Japp

Atlanta is Advocate’s West Coast Manager. Having graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in both Art History and Studio Art, she has not only acquired a deep passion for art but has also come to learn about its place in the current world. As an artist herself, she has coined a keen eye for successful design. In fact, one of Atlanta’s favorite things is to watch live art auctions as that is where she is able to foresee current and upcoming market trends. Atlanta was raised in a family of art lovers. In fact, she feels as though she is a natural agent as it runs in her blood. Both her mother and father worked as art advisors, appraisers, and sellers. Due to their involvement in the arts, Atlanta feels as though she was raised to work in this field alongside creatives. Working at Advocate Art has been such an exciting experience. It is the perfect blend of both her love for art and her interest in art sales. Atlanta feels so lucky to get the chance to look at beautiful artwork for a living and help bring some wonderful projects to life. Projects such as the FGTEEV Series illustrated by Miguel Diaz Rivas with HarperCollins Children’s, which was a New York Times Bestseller, The Juneteenth Story illustrated by Sawyer Cloud for Becker & Mayer, which was the Best Historical Winner for the Black Kitlit Awards 2022, and the General Mills Lucky Charms Campaign with Anomaly Advertising Agency, illustrated by Maria Lia Malandrino.
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