Celebrating the work of Irish children's laureate Niamh Sharkey – in pictures

This image of the giant catapulting through the cosmos was wonderfully fun to paint, from Jack and the Beanstalk, Barefoot Books Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

This is the original concept for Summer Hugglewug – sister of Henry Hugglemonster from I'm a Happy Hugglewug. Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Children of Lir: It was a little daunting illustrating one of the most famous Irish legends for Tales from Old Ireland, Barefoot Books. I found inspiration from the Book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin. Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

What you're looking at is the original concept for Grando Hugglewug from I'm a Happy Hugglewug, Walker Books. I do lots of little watercolour sketches when I am coming up with the look of characters for my books. I wanted Grando to look like a cuddly potato shaped monster with a spiky beard. He's based on my dad Don.   Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Original oils and gesso (what you paint onto a canvas before the oil paint is applied) images I created for Hugglewugs, Walker Books. Now the Hugglewugs have been turned into an animated series Henry Hugglemonster for Disney Junior. Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Here's one of the images for On the road with Mavis and Marge, Walker Books, a picture book about a cow and a chicken who go on a road trip, Thelma and Louise style!  Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Here's the pirate shop from The Extraordinaires – published by the Creativity Hub. It was so fun to imagine if a pirate ran a pet store what would it look like! Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Here's my version of a pirate in a storm from The Extraordinaires - published by the Creativity Hub. Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

This oil pastel monster is a change of style based on my favourite theme… monsters! Photograph: Niamh Sharkey

Another monster! An exhibition of Niamh Sharkey's artwork is running at the IllustrationCupboard in London until 10 May 2014. Photograph: Niamh Sharkey