It could be said that Tom Percival had an unconventional childhood in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. But you can just as easily rephrase that by saying that he grew up in a ramshackle and freezing-cold caravan with no electricity or heating. Whichever way you look at it, these formative years are almost certainly what first got him interested in writing and drawing. After trying a few cities on for size, he decided that deep down he had always been a country boy and now he lives on the edge of Rodborough common in Gloucestershire with his girlfriend and their two young sons.  

RJ grew up in Leamington Spa before moving down to Devon to study illustration at the University of Plymouth in Exeter and never went home again! After finishing his degree he stayed on to complete a P.hD. While working on his thesis he got a 'temporary job' in Exeter's Central Library and somehow found himself working there for more than ten years. When not at his desk he enjoys bobbing about in the sea, swimming in rivers, walking in woods, listening to audiobooks on the bus and stroking the cat. He now works full time as an author and illustrator.