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Steve Noon is one of Osprey's pool of regular illustrators, and has made himself a firm favourite since the publication of his first book with Osprey, NVG 47 Viking Longship, which published way back in February 2002. Steve was born in Kent, UK and attended college in Cornwall. He has had a life-long passion for illustration, and since 1985 has worked as a professional artist. Steve has provided award winning illustrations for the publishers Dorling Kindersley, where his interest in historical illustration began. Steve has had a busy fall this year, illustrating two books in the last few months, FOR 99 Defense of Japan 1945 and WAR 150 Carthaginian Warrior.

Keep an eye out for a couple more books illustrated by Steve in 2011, including CMD 18 Eisenhower and Raid 22 Decatur's Bold and Daring Act - The Philadelphia in Tripoli - which is being written by his fellow Advent Calendar guest blogger - Mark Lardas.

When I asked Steve what his favourite Osprey book was, this is what he had to say:

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"As an Illustrator, when I pick up an Osprey book, it's always the artwork I look to first. Osprey have had a fantastic stable of artists over the years and I admire the work of a great many of them. But, there is one in particular that I would pick out, who through his work inspired me as a child, and kindled a long standing interest in military history.

So the book I'm choosing is British Forces in Zululand by Ian Knight and Illustrated by Richard Scollins.

I haven't yet seen all the work Richard Scollins produced for Osprey, but this is one of his books that I have on my shelves, and one I will turn to for ideas.

As a child I'd regularly try to copy his pictures from magazines and books. I was always fascinated by the way he could depict the fighting man in such a convincing,  worn and battle weary state.

And now all these years later, here I am working with Osprey myself. Funny how things can turn out!"