ILLUSTRATOR - LONDON, UK

Joy FitzSimmons studied Illustration and Graphics at Liverpool Art School in the early 1970’s. Born and bred in the UK, she moved to London after college and embarked on a freelance career as a book designer and illustrator for 25 years. She later wrote and Illustrated 2 children’s books.

In 2001, while recovering from breast cancer, she and her husband, Andy, acquired two dachshunds, Archie and Doug. Reminiscent of her beloved childhood pet, Harvey, the sausage dog character formed the inspiration for London Pooch - her design company producing cards and gifts in the UK.  Joy painstakingly redraws well-loved works of art and enhances them digitally with the addition of a small dog or cat. Her designs have been featured in the British Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Fortnum and Mason and Liberty. 

Joy’s 2020 book, A Dog’s Guide to Art, was published by both Pavilion and Rizzoli Press in the USA. It features her favorite art loving canines - many of whom are also published as greeting cards by Allport Editions. 

Joy’s darling dachshunds Archie and Doug were followed by Ned and Henry. Ned now rules the house at the grand old age of 13 years! He remains in her husband’s words “a design classic, the spitfire of the canine world.”