Ross was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1972. As he grew up he was fond of drawing and precariously swinging backwards on chairs. He graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1994 with a First in Illustration.

In the same year he won the MacMillan Children's Book Prize. Ross spends his time writing and illustrating children's books, walking by Loch Lomond and precariously swinging backwards on chairs.

Ross can also be found scaring small children at book festivals and schools.