Justin Todd studied painting at Wimbledon and illustration at The Royal College. He was tutor in illustration at Brighton College of Art in the 1960s alongside John Vernon Lord and Raymond Briggs.

He started out as an historical illustrator but after ten years, describing everyday life from the Stone Age to the present, “was keen to escape.” He approached Penguin Books and spent another ten years painting paperback covers for a wide range of genres from horror to romance. He has also illustrated a number of children’s books.

He was runner-up for the Francis Williams memorial prize for children’s book illustrations in 1987 with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Gollancz, 1984).

He produced gouache works for the illustrated edition of Treasure Island. Dreaming Aloud – Justin Todd, a catalogue, with an accompanying essay by Christopher Sharrock, tracks the contribution of Todd to the history of his profession, from early illustrations of ‘Penny Lane’ in the Beatles Song Book to Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderlandand Treasure Island.