Natalie Reeves Billing

Natalie Reeves Billing is a Toxteth-born author of children’s picture books, a mental health advocate, founder of Split Perspectivz CIC and its Builder Book UK project and an award-winning social business leader.

She began her career in music as a songwriter and performer for publishing imprints and independent record labels across California. In 2007, she started a recycling business in Merseyside and gained her Waste Management (WAMITAB) license.

In 2016, Natalie began to study the craft of writing for children and attended institutions such as The Arvon Academy and the Golden Egg Academy. She launched her first children’s picture book series soon after, including the Monstrous Me Collection of flipbooks. She signed with Tiny Tree Publishing and Andrews (AUK) UK Publishing, with books such as Where is My Smile?

Natalie founded her social enterprise, Split Perspectivz, in 2019 and, alongside her fellow directors, launched the Builder Book UK project in 2020, providing free imagination boxes and packs, workshops, events and digital resources to children and young families across Merseyside.

Natalie is a fellow of the School of Social Entrepreneurs, a member of the 2023 American Express Leadership Academy with Common Purpose, and a founding member of the Female Forum Merseyside. Natalie regularly contributes to online media outlets, has a weekly column in the Liverpool Echo, and hosts the regular literary feature, Liverpool Speaks, on Liverpool Live Radio.

In 2023, she received a cross-party award for services to literacy from the Prime Minister in recognition of her work for disadvantaged children across the Liverpool City Region through her Builder Book UK project. Natalie is working on an inclusive innovation project called ‘The Animates’, has recently become a governor for Everton Free School and is very much looking forward to her new role as a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.