Nina Rycroft graduated with a Diploma in Graphic Design from Randwick, in 1992 she spent 6 years working as a designer in Sydney, London and Rome. She returned to Sydney in 1998 with her English husband, Andy, and began working on her first picture book, Little Platypus written by Nette Hilton, which was a 2001 CBCA notable book. In 2008 she illustrated the award-winning picture book Boom Bah! written by Phil Cummings which was published in conjunction with the Australian children's theatre production of the same name by Windmill Performing Arts Company. Ballroom Bonanza is Nina's most ambitious project yet. The book was conceived by her after a visit to Blackpool where her grandfather-in-law was once a big band leader, and has taken more than five years to come to fruition. She has been assisted with the storyline by author Stephen Harris. Nina lives in the Blue Mountains with her husband and two children,. Other picture books by Nina include Tricky Little Hippo written by Jane Bowring and Elephant Dance written by Sue Whiting both published by Koala Books