Kathleen Irene Nixon was born in London and studied at Camden School of Art and Birmingham School of Art. After her marriage she lived in India for 25 years, where she illustrated for the Times of India, designed 30 nature posters for the Indian State Railways, painted horse portraits and a mural of wild duck for the Bombay Natural History Museum. She also decorated the interior of a maharaja’s private home. After returning to England she wrote and illustrated numerous children’s animal stories and painted animal portraits. Perhaps her best-known illustrations were for the Brer Rabbit series and her covers for Enid Blyton books. She was elected a member of the Society of Women Artists.