Liz Pichon
The author and illustrator of the Tom Gates series.
Liz Pichon is an author and illustrator. The author and illustrator of the Tom Gates series. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books are in the current top 20 and where to start.
About Liz Pichon
Liz Pichon is a British author and illustrator who studied graphic design at Camberwell School of Art. In the late 1980s she worked as an art director at Jive Records, before becoming a children’s author and illustrator.
Her Tom Gates series began in 2011 and now runs to more than 20 main books, with about 16.5 million copies sold according to her publisher’s figures.
Tom Gates won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2011 and Liz also won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story.
Liz Pichon’s books in the top 20
- Tom Gates Is Not Famous (Yet): number 12 in the list we checked on 7 November 2026. A rumoured celebrity visit has Oakfield School buzzing, and Tom writes a comedy with parts for his friends.
Other well-known books and work
- The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (2011)
- Tom Gates (more than 20 main books)
- Shoe Wars (2020)
Awards and recognition
- Roald Dahl Funny Prize (2011)
- Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story
Where to start
Start with The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, the first book in the series.
Frequently asked questions about Liz Pichon
Who is Liz Pichon?
Liz Pichon is a British author and illustrator who studied graphic design at Camberwell School of Art. In the late 1980s she worked as an art director at Jive Records, before becoming a children’s author and illustrator.
Which books by Liz Pichon are in the top 20?
Tom Gates Is Not Famous (Yet) (number 12). See our Top 20 children’s books for the full list.
Where should I start with Liz Pichon?
Start with The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, the first book in the series.
Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.