Tessa Cobb

Tutor in Publishing & Journalism

Tessa has taught Humanities to young people for 11 years, beginning in secondary schools in 2014, graduating to higher education at Bath Spa University in 2022.

When she’s not teaching, Tessa is a children’s author and illustrator represented by Jessica Hare at The Agency. Her award-winning picture books about choosing happiness are enjoyed by readers across the globe. They lightly explore the Humanities through playful narratives.

Tessa recently completed an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at The Cambridge School of Art where she specialised in creating narrative non-fiction picture books. She continues to refine her illustration practice in printmaking and observational drawing alongside a growing network of local illustrators in Bath.

Tessa engages with other makers about why they create picture books through her “Happy Book Lady Podcast”. She is particularly interested in how illustrators choose happiness for themselves through their work.

Tessa loves to engage with her young audience through school workshops and literature festival events. She also delivers lectures at other creative universities, including UAL, and is a Creative Mentor at Bath Spa’s EMERGE graduate studio.