Liverpool-born artist David Roberts has illustrated books by some of Britain’s most celebrated children’s authors. We catch up with him about claiming Dutch PLR royalties, which he tells us are an important strand of an artist’s income.
Can you tell us a bit about your work?
I illustrate children's books. I am very lucky to be able to move between picture books with authors such as Julia Donaldson, Andrea Beaty and Peter Bentley, to chapter books for slightly older children, such as
Dirty Bertie, and now novels for young adults, like
Tinder by Sally Gardner and
Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly.
I have written two picture books myself and illustrated them, but I much prefer illustrating the work of other writers.
Why should artists sign up for Dutch PLR royalties?
Royalty payments are part of my income - it's important to claim them. If your book has been borrowed from a library, then it's just a small payment towards your work. It’s the same as if it were bought from a shop.
What did you spend your last Dutch PLR royalty on?
I bought a short black cape.
Any tips for first-time applicants?
Try and keep a list of all the titles you have had published within the Dutch PLR year. It's amazing how easily you can forget what books have been released and when!
What do you have coming up that we should know about?
I am currently finishing a picture book written by Michelle Robinson, called
A Beginner’s Guide to Spotting Bears. It has a rather unusual ending!
I am also working on a book with Julian Clary. It’s full of jokes and laughter about a family of hyenas living in a house in Teddington, and Dirty Bertie continues his mayhem and mischief with a new book out soon called
Jackpot!.
Learn more about David Roberts’ work.
Don’t miss the deadline to claim your share of this year’s Dutch PLR royalties. Apply by Wednesday 6 January 2016. Find out more.
Read interviews with other artists who claim Dutch PLR: Jane Ray, Debi Gliori and An Vrombaut.
Image: Illustration by David Roberts for 'The Bears of England' by Mick Jackson (Faber and Faber). Image © David Roberts, 2015