Helen Craig was born in London, England in 1934, and relocated with her family to the English countryside just before World War II began. She established her own photography studio and was both a sculptor and potter before her marriage. After the birth of her son in 1965, she became interested in illustrating children's books. The first book she illustrated was Wishing Gold by Robert Nye in 1970, and the first book she both wrote and illustrated, The Mouse House ABC, was published in 1977. Since then, she has worked on over 60 children's books. She is best known for co-creating and illustrating the award-winning Angelina Ballerina series of children's books with writer Katharine Holabird.