Lara Porter

I am a South African born children's book illustrator living in Sydney. My creative career began as a designer and then art director in advertising in Cape Town. I later moved to England and completed a BA Honours Degree in Illustration. After having kids I started freelance illustrating in Australia with jobs that spanned from editorial to home decor to packaging. I pivoted in the pandemic to follow my dreams and began building my children’s book portfolio in 2020.

Since then I have won three CYA Illustrator Awards and one NEWC Illustration Prize. Most recently I came first in the “published” category of the CYA Illustrator Awards 2024.

My very first picture book as an illustrator was published in 2023. “Fun in the Sun” is set at Balmoral Beach and written by Sydney dermatologist Dr Annika Smith. It is endorsed by the Cancer council and Melanoma Institute of Australia..

My second picture book “Running with Wings” was written by renowned sports journalist Sam Squiers and published by New Frontier. It was released in 2024 in Australia and the UK. Written in consultation with the CP Alliance it features a main character with cerebral palsy. It is a great book about friendship, inclusion, sport and being the best you can be.

Follow me on instagram @laraporter_illustration