Hello!

I’m a children’s book illustrator, artist and teacher. I live and work by the sea on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Australia. I work with publishers, authors and students to create visual stories that are engaging and fun! Please enjoy browsing my work and contact me with any questions.

Smiling person sitting on a couch in front of a fireplace-themed mural, wearing a denim jacket and polka dot shirt.
illustration of bear and rabbit on a bicycle
Illustration of animals dancing under a full moon in a desert landscape with trees. Animals include a mouse, rooster, kangaroo, and bear, with a bird flying above.
Child holding hand-drawn animal finger puppets, featuring illustrations of a mouse, wombat, echidna, and koala, colored in various shades.

I love presenting for children of all ages. I am represented by Lamont Authors for all school visits.

Schools and Library Visits

New Releases in 2025

""Wombat Poos are Square" is a delightful and book, published by CSIRO. This entertaining exploration of Australian animals and their unique poo was a joy to illustrate. I’m thrilled to share that this charming title will be released in April 2025, and it’s currently available for preorder.

Illustration of a young girl sewing. She is holding a red polka-dotted fabric piece, working at a table with sewing tools and materials like scissors, thread, and fabric. The background features large letters spelling "Poppy Makes Pockets."

A charming story published by EK Books about a smart girl who sews pockets for her friends and unites her community. Coming in 202 available for preorder worldwide.

Children standing in front of a food truck holding food with a colorful banner overhead. Book cover titled 'The Secret Ingredient' by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, illustrated by Karen Erasmus.
Cover art of children's book 'The Missing Book,' illustrated by Karen Erasmus, featuring two children sitting and reading, surrounded by books and playful decorations. Author: Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern.

The Ariana Treasure series includes 6 fun stories for early readers. It's published by Wombat Books and is set to be released in March 2025, available for preorder.

What they say…

  • Illustration of a cyclist with a mustache wearing a cap and teal jersey riding a bike, followed by three small, yellow ducks.

    "Receiving Karen's images has always been a joy, and right from the moment we receive them, they shape our entire production. I love looking up at the screens at venues such as the Sydney Opera House in the leadup to our productions and seeing Karen's illustrations displayed. Delightful, quaint and fun, Karen has created pictures that we are really proud of and capture exactly the texture of what we are trying to say. They have helped us build our image with our production partners, including the schools we visit."

    Lachlan Massey, Musgrove Opera

  • Illustrated children's book cover titled "Teddy, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World" by Kylie Miller, illustrated by Karen Erasmus. Features a group of animals including a greyhound, cat, bulldog, poodle, and dachshund in a grassy field with a tree and blue sky background.

    "One of the best things about working on picture books is the opportunity I have to see my words brought to life with clever and insightful illustration. I feel lucky to have worked with Karen Erasmus on four picture books so far and I hope we have more in our future. Above all, Karen is a delight to work with! "

    Kylie Miller, author

  • Illustration of two babies in green and orange striped pajamas: one lying on a blue pillow, the other sitting and pointing.

    "I got in touch with Karen after I had written some poems for my grandsons and wanted them to be illustrated for framing as gifts. I researched different illustrators on line and found Karen’s style to be just what I was looking for. I sent her some photos for reference and was absolutely delighted with what she came up with. The illustrations capture exactly the themes of the poems. Each of my three little grandsons now have my poems with Karen’s illustrations hanging on their bedroom walls and I couldn’t be more pleased or proud with the end result. Karen was very easy to communicate with and the work was all completed in a very professional and timely manner. I would highly recommend her for anyone looking for illustrative work and design. "

    Val Mackintosh

  • Illustration of a cat walking among people's legs, including a woman with a red skirt and a child with pink socks.

    It was such a pleasure working with Karen. She responded to our brief with creative and clever illustrations that are perfect for our target audience of early readers. Great communication, timely delivery of files and beautiful drawings – thanks Karen!

    Liz Heynes, Education Services Australia

Alphabet illustration and design

Alphabet illustration and design

Greeting Card Illustrations

Greeting Card Illustrations

Tees, cushions and more on Redbubble

Tees, cushions and more on Redbubble

Christmas t.shirt Illustrations

Christmas t.shirt Illustrations

Fun illustration challenges

Fun illustration challenges

Illustrating poetry

Illustrating poetry

Goodies in the Shop

I sell a bunch of different products featuring my illustrations.

Wander over to my shop and have a browse.

Services

  • Illustration for children’s books

    I’ve been illustrating children’s books for over 10 years. I love working with publishers and writers to bring characters to life. I have a background in teaching, and three children of my own, so I appreciate the precious connections that are made in sharing stories.

    Three children's books stacked on a wooden surface, with the top book titled 'Eva's Imagination' featuring a child and animals on the cover.

  • Illustration for businesses

    I’ve provided illustration for all sorts of different projects including exhibition spaces, online courses and education resources. Check out my projects page to see more.

    People petting a greyhound at an event booth with dog-themed decorations. Two young women are interacting with the dog, while informative banners about socializing young dogs and racing are displayed in the background.

  • Illustration for products

    Each month I can be found at Emu Plains Market I sell a range of illustrated products such as books and cards. I also design and sell ‘Sew Together’ doll kits and illustrated tea towels.

    Outdoor market with tents selling crafts, featuring illustrations, hanging garments, and books; surrounded by trees.
Books in Homes logo on left, with "I am a Books in Homes Role Model" text on orange background on right.

I’m really proud to be involved with this wonderful organisation. They have so far brought over 3 million books to disadvantaged children throughout Australia. Click on the logo to find out more.

Podcasts about illustration, design and creative writing that I love…

Illustration of a lighthouse and sailing ship with text "The Good Ship Illustration Podcast" on a dark background.
Logo featuring the text 'girl & duck.com' in white script on an orange background with decorative leaves and a yellow flower.
Illustrated cover for "The Honest Designers Show" featuring four cartoon-style portraits on a red background.