To the Beach

Thomas Docherty was born in New Zealand but has spent most of his life in England where he went to school and university. He studied metalwork and sculpture at Art College and has always liked drawing, especially whilst on his travels, which have taken him all over the world.

After leaving Art College, Thomas lived in Madrid for six years, where he wrote and illustrated his first book Pip and the Lost Dream which has been published in Taiwan, Spain and South Africa.

He now works mostly in the UK and continues to write his own children’s stories including Little Boat which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2009 and To the Beach. Thomas also illustrates other people’s work, most recently the Scandinavian classic The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf. He lives in Bristol with his wife and young daughter.