About

Yana is a UK-based writer and illustrator.

She emigrated from Russia as a child in the mid-90s and studied Illustration at Camberwell College, University of the Arts London in the late 00s.

Since then she has illustrated book covers, painted and sold her own range of nesting dolls, produced an educational children’s app and worked in comms roles at London secondary schools.

When Yana had children in 2017 and 2020, she was inspired by the English language first reader books her daughter brought home from school to create a first reader storybook in Russian with short simple words. Жук и Жаба is now available to buy on Amazon.

Yana lives in Surrey with her husband, daughter, son and a little yappy dog called Rosie. Her house is a little bit too loud for her liking most of the time.

If you'd like to get in touch with Yana, you can email her at yanaelkassova@gmail.com.