In 1983, he received the Mother Goose Award for the Most Exciting Newcomer to British Illustration for Angry Arthur (written by Hiawyn Oram).
After dropping out of school to pursue art, Kitamura decided not to attempt a 10-year apprenticeship as a potter and instead worked as a graphic artist.
More than twenty publishers declined his work until Alison Sage the children's book editor introduced him to Klaus Flugge of Andersen Press.
Klaus asked him to illustrate Angry Arthur in 1981, after an exhibition of his work at the Neal Street Gallery in Covent Garden.
Satoshi Kitamura worked with Colin McNaughton to create Once Upon an Ordinary School Day, published in 2004, In 2000, Sheep in Wolves' Clothing was adapted into an animated series by HIT Entertainment (who would later acquire Pingu (originally made by The Pygos Group), Fireman Sam (originally made by Bumper Films) and Thomas & Friends (originally made by Britt Allcroft Productions)) that was animated by Grand Slamm Children's Films (who had also worked with HIT to animate Kipper, Percy the Park Keeper and Angelina Ballerina for CITV) and screened on CBBC, lasted 2 seasons, Starred Absolutely Fabulous actress, Julia Sawalha as the voice of the character, Georgina and silent character, Kid's various noises and also sold to overseas markets, including Australia.