Dionnie Takahashi is an author-illustrator who loves working on imaginative and adventurous stories; the funnier and sillier the better. She works digitally and constantly learns new ways to improve her storytelling skills. She received a BA (Hons) in Multimedia Art (Animation) from Birmingham City University and is also qualified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) to young learners. She lives in Japan with her husband, their two children, and a pair of rescued cats from the same litter. When she’s not making books, Dionnie loves gardening, napping, reading her picture book collection, and watching movies with her family.
東マレーシアで生まれ、27年間シンガポールで育ちました。2008年に日本に移り住むまで、デザイナー/イラストレーターとして働いていました。 日本人と結婚し、二人の子供に恵まれました。 彼らの成長のためにもなると思い、自宅で小さな英語学校を経営しています。
絵を描くのを続けていて、児童向けのあたたかく、面白い動物キャラクターが得意です。 子育ても落ち着いてきたので、クリエイターズエキスポ2020でイラストレーターとして日本でデビューいたしました。
海外出身なので、自分のイラストを日本のたくさんの方々に知ってもらいたいです。児童書、文具雑貨等の企業様の方にもお会いできたら嬉しいです。よろしくお願いいたします。
My illustrations are digital, from sketch to finish as I find drawing and painting with digital art software convenient and forgiving. Having a wide range of drawing tools to experiment with evolves my style and improves my illustration process.
With that, I create playful narratives that turn mundane everyday life into adventures and wonders. I invite the readers to let their imaginations run wild as they turn each page and go on whimsical journeys with me and my characters.
Books that nurture the curiosity and imagination of young minds have always fascinated me. My early years were filled with enchanted stories by Enid Blyton and “what if” scenarios from Choose Your Own Adventure books.
While I was a part-time bookseller, I came across unconventional picture books that helped me see this medium as an excellent portal for creativity and imagination.
So here I am, after liberating my inner storyteller from my self-induced “I can’t write” mindset. I no longer want to depend on others for stories to illustrate. I am giving my all to grow as an author-illustrator and would never stop learning from industry experts to hone my storytelling skills.
What Dr. Seuss said resonates with me: “The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”. That, to me, includes the wonderfully imagined world of picture book places.
Blackcabbit Illustration
Freelance, Self-employed
2007 – Present・Singapore & Japan
フリーランス イラストレーター / クリエイターズエキスポ2020でイラストレーターとして日本でデビューいたしました。
ESL Teacher
Blackcabbit’s English Enrichment School (B.E.E.S)
2016 – Present・Japan
イラストレーションのスキルと教師の経験を活かす為、B.E.E.S を開校することにしました。子供達にとって、心惹かれるとても魅力的な教材を提供します。
2015年12月 英語講師の国際資格取得
『Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)』
2016年 1月 子供専門の英語教師の資格取得
『Advance Certificate in Teaching Young Learners』
Multimedia Art Specialist
TOUCH Community Services – TOUCH Centre for Independent Living (TCIL)
2003 – 2006・Singapore
発達障害を持つ青年達に関わる会社に勤務していました。デザインや雑貨制作などに携わり、青年達にコンピュータアートを教えていました。
Designing for TOUCH SpecialCrafts & teaching computer art to persons with intellectual disability.
Birmingham City University
(University of Central England in Birmingham)
B. A. (Hons), Multimedia Art
2001 – 2002・Singapore
バーミンガム市立大学でマルチメディアアートのBA Honors (優等学位)を取得しました。
LASALLE College of the Art
Diploma with High Distinction,
Multimedia Art (Animation)
1998 – 2001・Singapore
ラサール芸術大学のマルチメディアアートのアニメーション学部を首席で卒業。
Click here for Dionnie’s Blog (external Link)
DIONNIE TAKAHASHI‘s Life In A Nutshell:
🇲🇾 Born in Malaysia
🇸🇬 27 years in Singapore
🇯🇵 Married & Rooted in Japan
👦🏻👧🏻😸😸 Mother of 4
❤️ Gardening 🍇🍓🫐🍒🐝
✝︎ Christian
The Backstory of Blackcabbit
Blackcabbit was the brand identity I created for my website in 2006. While searching for a name that was easier to pronounce than my own, I coincidentally came across the word “cabbit.” It is a fictional hybrid between a rabbit and a cat. And since I was born in the Year of the Rabbit and I adore cats, it was ideal. I added my (then) favorite color, and presto! Blackcabbit it is!
