But we discovered that, although I liked publishing, the commercial side meant nothing at all to me.

Each book first begins with a little idea.

I come from a family of business people, but I had the idea I wanted to become an artist.

I thought it would be very nice to become Picasso or Rembrandt, or a van Gogh.

I want a nice picture book with 12 pictures - I do my best with that format.

I did about 2000 covers altogether, for all sorts of books - from Shakespeare to James Bond - and I always had the idea that I must give 100%, no matter who the author was.

When I make a book, I make it for the child and not for the parent - no jokes in it for the parents!