As an experienced visual storyteller I can turn complex ideas and stories into accessible, emotionally engaging images. My neurodivergent thinking helps me bring fresh energy and perspective to a wide range of projects inc 60 picturebooks, bringing a marketing story to life for a major paint brand, designing / illustrating community led events & assets and scriptwriting for live theatre. All with a common theme of expressive characterisation through humour and emotion with simple, dynamic composition & curation, and a keen attention to detail.
The images I create evolve through experimental play with analogue materials, a feeling and a vague idea of context. In love with handmade, imperfect collage, painting and drawing, I work to keep this at the core of my practice — whether as ideation, final application, simply play for my own projects or in collaboration with others. My core themes nestle between human connection, emotional resonance and self-expression — championing and celebrating the individuality and diversity of each one of us, and the stories that emerge through interaction.
“Working quickly with materials I enjoy can open up new possibilities and potential story ideas”
A selection of images that reflect the core of my practice. A love of texture, composition and shape, created in response to a commercial career as an illustrator working to brief. I tend to work on a small scale due to logistics of my studio space, the immediacy and accessibility needed when working in between paid projects, but also wanting to stay intimate with my work so most of these images are 15cm x 21cm. Click on the image to enter gallery.
Solo Shows
2024 The Accidental Gardener - A Picturebook Process, 89 Redruth, Redruth, Cornwall.
2019 All In A Days Work - PS2 - Plymouth College of Art
2017 'An-ti-dote', The attic room, Cornwall Contemporary, Penzance
2014 Antidote-The Picture Room, Newlyn Gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall
2012 Truro Arts café, Truro
2012 Antidote, Salthouse Gallery, St Ives
2008 Rostra Gallery, Bath
2005 Rostra Gallery, Bath
Group and feature shows:
2025 - Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition / Visual Identity world tour, Taipei, Tawian.
2023 - Bologna Children’s Book Fair - Visual identity, celebration exhibition and publications. Italy, Europe and world tour.
2022 - Dpictus Unpublished Showcase - The Accidental Gardener - Bologna Children’s Book Fair / Frankfurt Book Fair
2021 - Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival - Illustrators Exhibition - Sharjah, United Emirates
2020 - Award Winner - Professional group - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.
2019 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - MBC - Munhwa Broadcasting Corp of Daegu, South Korea
2018 / 19 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Nagashima Art Museum (Kagoshima) Japan
2018 - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.
2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Ishikawa Nanao Art Museum (Ishikawa, Nanao) Japan
2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Yokkaichi Municipal Museum (Mir, Yokkaichi) Japan
2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Otani Memorial Art Museum (Hogo, Nishinomiya) Japan
2018 - Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - Narimasu Art Gallery (Tokyo, Itabashi Art Museum) Japan
2018 Löwen Haus - Dorfmitte 7, Gerswalde, Uckermark. Germany
2018 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration - World Tour
2018 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition - Worldwide Trends in Children's Illustration, Bologna Fiere, Bologna, Italy
2017 The Drawing Show, Project Space1, Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth
2017 'Collage 366', The Lander Gallery, Truro
2017 SKETCH2017 Black Swan Arts, Frome
2017 SKETCH2017 Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth
2017 SKETCH2017 Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University
2017 SKETCH2017 Rabley Drawing Centre, Marlborough
2015 Walking Into Memory, 60 Morab Rd, Penzance
2014-16 Newlyn School of Art Tutors Show Newlyn Art Gallery
2013 ‘Drawing the Line’ Millennium (Anima Mundi) Gallery, St Ives
2013 Newlyn School of Art Tutors fundraiser Newlyn Art Gallery
2013 ‘Waterlog’, The Poly Falmouth
2013 ‘A Night, A day, Another night’. Bucca, Newlyn
2013 ‘Painting Show’ Bucca, Newlyn
2013 ‘Fiat Lux’ Limbo, Cornwall Art Biennial, Truro
2012 ‘Leth’, Newlyn
2012/14 Plumbline and Orchard Gallery, St Ives
2012 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro
2011 MA group show Truro Arts Café, Truro
2011 MA show Falmouth University
2011 MA group show Hung, Drawn and Authored, The Poly Falmouth
2010 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro
2010 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery iii St Austell
2010 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery ii Truro
2009 Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick House, Truro
2009 Hi5 Art Collective pop up Gallery i, Truro
2009 Seed Surf, Wadebridge
2004 Bristol Arts Trail, Bristol.
2004 ‘About 10’, Awning project, Spyglass, Bristol
2003 Bristol Arts Trail, Bristol.
2003 Caroline Pedler and Terry Frost, Rostra gallery, Bath
2002 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival
2001 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival
2000 Bread and Butter Art Collective, pop up gallery, Bath Fringe Festival
1999 Bread and Butter Collective, pop up gallery, Fringe Festival, Bath
TEACHING
2022 - 2025 - External Examiner - MA Illustration- Authorial Practice, Falmouth University
2022 - present - Associate Mentor, Ceri Hand mentoring.
2019 - present - Caroline Pedler - Creative Mentor. Private clients & Cultivator.
2016 - present - Part Time Lecturer, pathway leader - MA Illustration, Plymouth College of Art,
2013 - present - Tutor, Newlyn School of Art, Cornwall
2013 - present - Part Time Lecturer - BA Hons Illustration, Plymouth College of Art.
2014 - present - Mentoring in Children's book Illustration, private clients.
2010 - 2014 - Mentoring with RIO (Real Ideas Organisation) and Aggie Arts, Cornwall
2008 - 2013 - Guest lecturer Swindon and Plymouth College of Art
1995 - present Various workshops for children and adults around the country inc most recently Cornwall School of Arts, Port Eliot Festival, Cornwall and National Saturday Club, Plymouth.
RESIDENCIES, CONFERENCES & PAPERS & AWARDS
2025 - FHEA Fellowship of Higher Education Academy - Demonstrates commitment to teaching, learning and the student experience, in diverse academic or professional settings.
2024 - Awarded DYCP - Arts Council England funding. Exploration & development of the creative process as author-Illustrator
2023 - Artist residency & Publication - Trenince Farm, Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall.
2022 - Speaker - Cultivator - Falmouth University of Arts - Falmouth, Cornwall.
2020 - Award Winner - Professional group - CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition - Baoshan Folks Arts Museum - Permanent illustration collection, Shanghai, China.
2020 - Paper - Sketchbook as therapist: Self-authorship and the art of making picturebooks - Journal of Illustration, Intellect.
2019 - Presentation - Illustrating Mental Health, Illustration Research, Worcester University, Worcester UK.
2018 - Peer reviewer - Journal Of Illustration, Intellect.
2016 - Artist residency & Publication - Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Gulval, Cornwall
2014 - Speaker - MA - Illustration-Authorial Practice, Falmouth, Cornwall
2014 - Artist - TAaP, No.5 Porthmeor Studios, St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall
1994 - Exchange student - Ecole De Beauxs Art, Caen, France