A retired Perthshire schoolteacher has seen her debut book for children embraced by some of the UK’s top art galleries.
Taking inspiration from an artist friend and her dog Oscar, Louise Robertson has created a series of titles about the canine’s creative talents.
The attention to detail in the picture book has already seen it find favour with the Royal Academy of the Arts and the National Gallery of Scotland.
The writer and illustrator has also seen her local Waterstones in Perth agree to stock the book.
Louise, 52, is currently in Chicago doing readings from “Woofy Woo Woo the artist dog” and has been delighted by the response.
She said: “I started writing and illustrating my first book back in 1993 but I was too scared to make it public.
“My friends said I should try and get it published but I never did take that step and that book is still in storage.”
Things changed when Louise, who worked as a headteacher south of the border and in Clackmananshire, found herself unable to work.
It was then that she decided to throw herself into writing full time.
She said: “I wrote Woofy Woo Woo last year. It’s based on my artist friend Eileen and her dog Oscar.
“He’s something of a star in real life and even has his own Instagram page.
“His character really shone through as did his relationship with his great companion Malcolm (Eileen’s husband). It was their relationship that really captured my imagination.
“Having been a teacher I’m really keen to help children start reading and I’ve also worked hard to introduce art terms into the books.
“The National Gallery of Scotland has been so supportive as I think they realise the book works well as an introduction to art for kids.”
The writer enjoyed taking part in this year’s Scottish Book Week events and is currently in Chicago in the USA where the book is providing a hit.
She has been reading to children during a tour and has found herself much in demand — though not always for the reasons you might imagine.
Louise said: “The reception has been really good and I’ve been doing a lot of readings.
“For some reason the bookstores often get me to read bits from the Harry Potter books too. I think they like my English accent.”
Louise plans to release two more books in the artist dog series in the New Year.
