Illustrations for BBC Tiny Happy People and Child Bereavement UK

Earlier this month, I was asked to create this set of illustrations for @bbctinyhappypeople in collaboration with @childbereavementuk

It was quite a challenge at first, I lost a loved one myself last year and I was working on this around the one year anniversary. It meant so much to me to get the feel of this right, and as us illustrators have to tune into our own feelings as we work, it was impossible to switch off from my own grief and memories while making the drawings.

The style I usually work in for these briefs is so bold, bright and cheerful looking, I also felt I needed to alter my style to make it work better for the topic. I tried out some different techniques to usual and was really happy with the results, I’ve discovered a style I’m looking forward to trying more of which is a lovely thing.

I am so glad BBC Tiny Happy People came to me with this brief. I really hope it offered support and helpful ideas for anyone grieving this Christmas ❤️

NEW: A Very Yorkshire Colouring Book

Brand new for Christmas 2023! Following the success of my Sheffield Colouring Book, A Very Yorkshire Colouring Book is here to spread joy and celebrate beautiful Yorkshire! Featuring city scenes, seaside favourites, famous faces and relaxing countryside, there's a colouring page to suit your every mood.

A perfect Christmas stocking filler for the Yorkshire born and breds, the dwellers, expats and visitors. It is available to buy on my Etsy shop here.

SKETCHBOOK FUN - Monsters!

I recently bought myself a copy of Making Comics by Lynda Barry and I've started working through the exercises, which begin with monsters. I was enjoying coming up with different ways to draw them, so decided to fill a spread with lots of different monsters, having no plan and making them up as I drew. 

Not sure which is my favourite, maybe the alien looking thing with long spirally arms, on the left?! Although the fluffy one on the right hand page with big eyes keeps looking at me!

BBC TINY HAPPY PEOPLE - Some of my latest illustrations

I thought I'd share some of my illustrations I've worked on recently for BBC Tiny Happy People. I've been working with this super special client for a few years now and I'm grateful that we have such a good relationship.

It's always fun to work with their bold colour palette and add humour and warmth to their parenting briefs. It's given me lots of practice for drawing lots of babies and toddlers too!

I was over the moon when this Father's Day post
last year got such an amazing response!

PUBLISHING DAY for Be Confident Be You - The Teenage Guide

Last week was publishing day for Be Confident Be You! I absolutely loved illustrating this book for Becky Goddard Hill, published by Harper Collins. 

The book is a sequel to Be Happy Be You, a book I also illustrated the spot illustrations for. It means a lot to me to work on wellbeing topics for children and young adults - the memorable tools and exercises in these books can make such a big difference and their effects can last a lifetime.