Although Annie has little time for "serious art, " her detailed illustrating style and mischievous sense of humour have been a big hit, and her work has been bought by many serious collectors.

The humorous slant in her work began on a historical note. Looking through the "dull" illustrations in her daughter's history books prompted Annie to add a bit of spice to some famous historical events. A typical example being her depiction of Daniel O'Connell's monster meetings . . . with real monsters!

Already, she has a two-month back log and there is no sign of the popularity of her work abating.

"I get an enormous amount of enquiries from people, from the simple to the complicated and from the sublime to the ridiculous, " she says.

"It's back-to-back right up to Christmas and I've got to get a book out as well. Since I started exhibiting in galleries it has really taken off. It's great but I've gone through a lot of pencils."

Already, she has received commissions to do illustrations for the Pitt and Cruise babies, Shiloh and Suri; Sharon Shannon; rugby players, David Humphreys and Mick Galwey, and she is currently working on a piece for American Ambassador to Ireland, Tom Foley.

"I do enjoy doing commission work because it's usually quite a challenge. Sometimes you get commissioned to do something and absolutely nothing comes into your head whatsoever. But some idea always comes and nine times out of ten they like it, " she says.

"I get a big kick out of getting it right. When an idea does come and I tell it to the person and they start laughing, it's very rewarding."

Although Annie has been illustrating children's books and album covers for the past 20 years, her popularity has really taken off in the last three years.

As well as working on art for her exhibitions and commissions, she has written her own children's book, for Mercier, which will be out next year. She has also been commissioned by CBBC for an Irish language children's TV show.

Annie exhibits every year in Dublin and Sligo and her work can be seen, and bought, on her website . . .www. anniewest. com