Details
David Salariya is an award-winning author, illustrator, designer, and the founder of The Salariya Book Company and it's Imprints: Book House, Scribblers and Scribo, designer and creator of the international best-selling You Wouldn’t Want To Be… series, which has sold more than 16 million copies in 35 languages worldwide. Based in Brighton, he has spent over 40 years shaping children’s publishing through books that blend humour, history, and design excellence.
Born in Scotland, David trained in illustration and book design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee before beginning his career with Reader’s Digest and Giunti Marzocco in Florence. In 1989 he founded The Salariya Book Company, an independent press celebrated for its innovative non-fiction and visually rich titles for young readers.
For decades, he knows what truly makes children lean in to a book - not polite interest, but real curiosity: eyes wide, giggling, horrified, amazed. It always comes down to the same six things:
Diversity, Danger, Disgust, Drama, Discovery, and Survival.
These are the emotional engines that drive young readers - across every culture and language.
Across his career, David has conceived, written, illustrated, and published hundreds of books, collaborating with organisations including the Historic Royal Palaces, The Mary Rose Trust, and The Tank Museum, as well as major publishers in the UK, USA, and Italy. His titles continue to be used in classrooms and libraries around the world.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and member of the Society of Authors, David regularly visits schools to lead workshops on creativity, storytelling, and design.
Workshop: Words and Pictures – Where Ideas Come From
A creative, hands-on adventure that shows how stories leap off the page and pictures bring them to life.
What You’ll See & Do:
- A Look Behind the Pages — how ideas become books (with real sketches, artwork, and mock-ups).
- Picture Books, Pop-Ups & Peculiar Plots — what makes a good one, and why.
- The Big Idea Hunt — where stories come from (hint: not from thin air).
- Ask the Author! — how to draw, publish, and get away with imagination.
- Make Your Own Mini Book! — pupils create their own stories using blank picture books and storyboard sheets.
Expect scribbles and inspiration - the only lesson where daydreaming is homework.
Five Things You’ll Learn
- How a story idea takes shape (and occasionally runs off with your pencil).
- Why drawing and writing are really the same thing in disguise.
- What illustrators actually do all day.
- Why mistakes make books better.
- How to turn imagination into ink, paper and possibility.
Books by David Salariya
From baby board books to pop-ups and history adventures, David’s titles celebrate humour, invention, and brilliant design.
He founded The Salariya Book Company in 1989 to publish books that make children think, laugh, and want to read more.
Speaking and Media
David is an experienced speaker and media guest, having given interviews for BBC Radio, discussing children’s publishing, creativity, and visual learning.
He has spoken at literary events, the UK and abroad, including appearances at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, The London Book Fair, and at trade events in Brazil.
Teaching & Workshop Experience
A qualified art teacher, trained at The University of Sussex, David has taught art, design, and creative writing workshops in schools and universities across the UK. His interactive session, “Words and Pictures – Where Ideas Come From”, invites pupils to explore how a book is made - from first sketch to finished story.
Each workshop includes:
- Live demonstration of illustration and layout design
- Group brainstorming and storyboarding exercises
- Pupils creating their own short picture books using blank templates provided
- One-to-one creative guidance and feedback
Workshops are tailored for KS2–KS3 pupils and can be adapted for secondary, art college, or teacher training audiences.
Areas of Expertise
- Children’s publishing and book creation
- Illustration, visual literacy, and design
- Historical storytelling for children (Ancient Egypt, Romans, Vikings, Tudor history, Titanic)
- Creative writing and idea development
- The evolution of publishing, design, and printing
- Encouraging reading for pleasure in the digital age
Talks and Presentations
David offers talks for festivals, schools, and creative groups on topics such as:
- “From Idea to Book: The Art and Craft of Children’s Publishing”
- “Drawing History: Turning the Past into Story”
- “How to Hook Young Readers: Humour, Design and Curiosity”
- “The Life of a Bookmaker: 40 Years of Stories and Surprises”
- “Pulp History: Finding the Juiciest Bits of the Past”
Talks are lively, visual, and adaptable for both children’s and adult audiences.
Travel
David is based in Brighton, England, and is available for visits across the UK, including London, the South East, and nationwide by arrangement, he welcomes collaborations with schools, cultural institutes, or festivals abroad.
Writing Commissions
David accepts selected writing and illustration commissions, particularly in:
- Children’s non-fiction and history
- Educational content and museum partnerships
- Articles, essays, or commentary on publishing, design, and creative education
- Illustrated features and visual storytelling projects
Fees
Fees are based on Society of Authors guidelines and vary according to travel, duration, and audience size. David is happy to discuss arrangements directly with organisers.
