Pirkko Vainio is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. She contributed the flowing, vibrant paintings for Natasha Yim’s lovely story in The Rock Maiden: A Chinese Tale of Love and Loyalty, bringing to life a far-away, long-ago world of separated lovers, sympathetic villagers, magical events, and a helpful goddess.

Pirkko Vainio was born in Finland and studied at the Academy of Art in Helsinki. She has written and illustrated over 30 children’s books, which have been translated into 15 languages.

Among her many books are The Dream House (winner of Frankfurt’s Prix Octagonale Graphique), The Snow Goose (winner of the Picture Book Prize, Finland), For Those Who Want to Fly, Who Hid the Easter Eggs, and the Hans Christian Andersen tales The Nightingale and The Ugly Duckling.

Pirkko’s work has been exhibited throughout the world, including at the Musee des Beaux Arts in Caen, France, the Itabashi Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan, the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition in Bologna, Italy, and several collectives in Scandinavia and Italy.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company has made two documentaries on her life and work.

When Pirkko is not busy painting or writing, she enjoys classical music, opera, ballet, and cultural history. She currently resides in Jämsä, Finland, often visiting Florence, Italy, where she has spent the greater part of her life.