Kelly Murphy is an American author and illustrator from Massachusetts. Murphy attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island, her student work receiving distinction from the Society of Illustrators. After graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration in 1999, Murphy started a freelance career as an editorial and children's books illustrator. She wrote and illustrated her first picture book The Boll Weevil Ball in 2002 and has since illustrated a dozen more, including stories written by award-winning authors such as Kathi Appelt, Richard Peck and Jane Yolen. Murphy has also created artwork for theater and film, including the 2003 indie feature Little Erin Merryweather. In 2009 Murphy earned an E.B. White Read Aloud Award for illustrating the New York Times Best Seller Masterpiece, written by Elise Broach.