Rooting for Pandemonium

We’re delighted that a collaboration between two of our successful artists is shortlisted for the People’s Book Prize. Pandemonium, written by Dan Crisp and illustrated by Mark Chambers, tells of the naughty antics zoo animals get up to while the zookeeper sleeps. A review at ‘There’s a Book’ called it ‘quite truly the funniest picture book ever’ and that the end left the reader ‘completely surprised and hysterically so.’ You can vote for Pandemonium here.

Dan’s career as an illustrator spans a number of genres – he has illustrated for advertising, editorial, packaging and textiles – as well produced several ranges of best selling greeting cards. He has also written a number of other children’s books.

We have represented Mark since the beginning of his career as an illustrator, working with him to develop his university portfolio. We first showed his work at the Bologna Book Fair in 2004, and since then we’ve secured major book deals with publishers such as Templar, Little Tiger Press and Random House – as well as a commission for ZSL London Zoo to illustrate their ‘Animal Adventure’ concept for the new children’s zoo – which led to further book deals for Bloomsbury. He describes us as ‘not so much agents’ as ‘friends who get me work’ and credits our dedication and as key to his success.

We couldn’t be prouder and wish Pandemonium all the luck in the world.

Vicki’s Recipe for Success

Our CEO & founder Vicki is featured on the back page of the current issue of Art Buyer magazine, sharing her recipe for success.

If you missed her piece, you can read it here.

It’s a Bright Future in the USA

Everyone loves an experiment gone right! And that is how we’re feeling about Bright’s expansion into the US.

A few years ago we made the tentative move into the huge American market, and BEA2012 marks the two year anniversary of Kirsten Hall as Bright’s first USA based agent. We’re delighted to announce that Kirsten has been promoted to Managing Agent, USA, and going forwards, she will work more closely with us and with associated agencies on developing strategies to offer even more opportunities to our clients and artists.

Kirsten’s success at forging new partnerships and engaging existing clients has already led to the US being an important market for our artists. Our approach of brainstorming original concepts with our artists, developing ideas into marketable products, means that clients come to us first, knowing that they’re likely to find exactly what they’re looking for. Kirsten’s incredible knowledge of the American market gives our artists valuable insight into trends and requirements, so that they’re able to develop their portfolios appropriately. 

Kirsten is adept at recognizing artists who may never have considered a career in the children’s market – finding them in the unlikeliest of places, through various social media and obviously, at trade shows.  If a client loves an artist’s work, we’re often able to delight clients by providing text to complement the art.

While Kirsten actively promotes our artists at weekly client face-to-face meetings in New York and through state of the art e-campaigns, she is also available in person or via Skype for artists – when her kids are in bed, she can often be found skyping Australian artists for ‘breakfast meetings’.

Kirsten described Bright as ‘not an ordinary agency. We identify the sparks and use them to make magic.’
We’re thrilled that we have one of the Brightest sparks working with us, for you.