Masturah Jeffrey (published moniker of Masturah Sha'ari) grew up in the heart of Siglap, Singapore with her three brothers and two sisters playing batu serimbat, capteh and yeh-yeh. Her late father would often drive the family to their Minangkabau kampung in Negri Sembilan, Malaysia to reconnect with relatives, and know more about their ethnic roots. Of course it was an opportunity to go barefoot, run with chickens, climb trees, get their hands and feet dirty, or simply bask in the kampung sun.

After graduating (economics major) from NUS, Masturah worked as a design librarian. But her love for drawing since the minute she could hold a pencil, leading her to win art competitions by the age of 10, and getting As in Art classes in her schooldays, stayed with her. It was a visit to a humble traditional papermaker during a month-long stay in Japan that spurred her to pursue further studies and a career in art and design. Since getting her first contract with Tuttle in 2003, Masturah has illustrated for their Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids and Book & Paper Kits series, My Day at the Istana, published by Ant for The Istana Singapore, and other children's books.

When not doodling, Masturah is founder of Design Maya, creating corporate and marketing identities for Bosch, Gulf Air, Lucent, interact group, Marshall Cavendish and StrategiCom. She also owns Sejati Cards, her own line of wedding and party invitation designs, where she hopes to create interest and awareness of the vibrant Malay and Asian heritage and cultures. Proceeds from the card sales have been donated to the School Pocket Money Fund and Mercy Relief.

Masturah lives in Singapore with her husband and their three lovely children.