Hawkins was born in Dulwich and brought up in Blackheath, the daughter of Jacqui Hawkins (née Jacqueline Sinfield) and Colin Hawkins, authors and illustrators of children's books.
Hawkins naceu en Dulwich e creceu en Blackheath, filla de Jacquiline Hawkins (de solteira, Sinfield) e Colin Hawkins, autores e ilustradores de libros infantís.