AustLit

Margaret Senior grew up in an extended family on a chicken farm north of London. After leaving school she worked in provincial and small London theatres, painting scenery and designing sets, costumes, sketching and acting. In Australia she began illustrating for John Sands, who in the 1950s published a number of children's books designed and illustrated by Senior.

As an illustrator of children's books and a wildlife artist, Senior contributed regularly to the New South Wales School Magazine until 1970. She also published Vocal Exercises for 20th Century Music (1986). Senior left a bequest to the University of Newcastle to encourage the study of natural history illustration, and the resulting Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award recognises the work of talented students in the University of Newcastle's Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) program.