Richard Rudnicki has illustrated several award-winning children's books. Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! was a finalist for the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, a finalist for the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Book Illustration (Halifax), and a finalist for the Silver Birch Award, and Gracie, the Public Gardens Duck won the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration and was a finalist for the APMA Best Atlantic Published Book Award. Richard is well known for his paintings of Nova Scotia. He also teaches figure drawing and portraiture and gives school workshops. He lives in Halifax.