She wrote and illustrated her first picture book, The Boll Weevil Ball, in 2002[4] and has since illustrated more than 50 books for children, including stories written by authors Dave Eggers,[5] J. Patrick Lewis, Linda Sue Park, Richard Peck, Beatrix Potter and Jane Yolen.
White Read Aloud Award[10] for illustrating the New York Times Best Seller[11] Masterpiece, written by Elise Broach.
In 2019 All the Greys on Greene Street, written by Laura Tucker and illustrated by Murphy, was distinguished as a best book of the year by The New York Times,[12] Kirkus Reviews,[13] BookPage[14] and Publishers Weekly.
[15] Murphy was one of 5 artists whose work was exhibited in the 18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators' Show & Signing at the Chemers Gallery in Tustin, CA in 2009.
[18] In 2012, Murphy's work received a Gold Award in the Illustration West 50 competition and was exhibited at the Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California.