Claire Zeaman has two careers – art teacher and freelance illustrator.

As a teacher, she has been working with physically and developmentally disabled adults and children since 2004, connecting with her students through organizations that bring the arts to people with autism and other special needs.

Her illustration subjects, rooted in her love of animals, are both naturalistic and anthropomorphic. Her current book, “The Unclever Fox,” has a variety of talking animals with distinct personalities including a groundhog, possum, river otter, owl, pigs and, of course, the title character.

Claire is a graduate of Horace Mann school in New York City. She studied at Smith College, Parsons School of Design and holds a degree in art education from Montclair State University.

She lives in Kearny, N.J. with her husband, Kevin, and —at present—five cats.