Jan an internationally published illustrator and character designer. From picture books, commercial illustrations to advertising and clothing merchandise, Jan has worked on a variety of projects. She grew up in many towns and cities throughout Ontario, worked in Toronto and now lives in Aurora with her husband and two kids.

Her first Canadian picture book, ‘Gabby’ written by Joyce Grant won the Rainforest of Reading Festival Award – Montserrat in 2015. Since then she has illustrated Gabby: Drama Queen, Gabby: Wonder Girl, Lucky Me, The Cold Little Voice and releasing soon But Why? A Virus Story About Feelings.

She has illustrated children’s books with Joyce Grant, Alison Hughes, Jackie Azua Kramer, Lora Rozler, Cassie St. Amand, Katherine James to name a few. 

Interesting facts about Jan: born on an island, kissed by a famous author, cottage on a Great Lake

Clients include: Dancing Cat Books, BookLife UK, Save the Children (Sweden), Happiness Is Inc., Ontario Arts Council, Clockwise Press, GAPC Entertainment, MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing, Rubicon Publishing, LifeWay Kids, Ransom Publishing UK, Scholastic Canada Education, Fitzhenry and Whiteside Publishers, To Know is To Know, Women’s Health Foundation, Below Your Belt, Farfaria, LilyLu & TT2 Publishing, Magic World Media, and Crayola Canada.

 

 

Member, Illustrators For Hire, since 2021
Member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Member of The Canadian Children’s Book Centre

2021 Faculty member – Southampton Arts Centre

2019 Illustrator Showcase with Brenda Clark (Franklin the Turtle) and Jan Dolby
– The Book Drunkard Literary Festival, Blue Heron Book Store

2019 Book Champion – Stouffville Reads, W-S Public Library 

 

 

You can view Jan’s client work at her studio website thepinksuitcase.com 

Minted Artist: https://www.minted.com/store/jandolby 

Feel free to contact me to discuss future projects jandolby@bell.net 

Honours & Awards

Winning entry “Car Art” Minted X Pottery Barn Kids X PBTeen contest

Below Your Belt, How To Be Queen of Your Pelvic Region Gold Medalist – Independent Publisher Book Award, Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing, Award for Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction Gold Medalist – Nautilus Book Award, Better Books for a Better Word, Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction Silver Medalist – Independent Book Publishers Association, Ben Franklin Award for Editorial and Design

Gabby picture book Winner – Rainforest of Reading Festival, Montserrat 2015 Nominee – Rainforest of Reading Festival, Grenada and St. Lucia 2014 Ontario Library Association’s Best Bets Top 10 2014 Featured in: Canadian Toy Testing Council Toy Report 2014 Award Winning Books Canadian Living Magazine’s Family Fun Guide summer 2013 – Great Summer Reads The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids and Teens 2013 – Picture Books for kids ages 3 and up