The two sections I realised I had missed out in my first draft of my personal statement were Impact and Engagement and also Exhibition and display, as well as adding a bit more to my creative process section.
I have added the new sections below and will add these into the final draft when it comes to that point in the unit.
Impact and engagement
Through my practise, I aim to create picture books that engage children not only visually but also emotionally and intellectually. My illustrations are designed to encourage careful looking, spark curiosity about nature, and nurture empathy. I want my work to create moments of connection – between children and stories, children and their caregivers, and children and the wider world. Beyond the page, I see opportunities for engagement through workshops, school visits, and collaborative projects, offering children accessible and enriching experiences with illustration and storytelling. My ultimate aim is for my work to inspire both wonder and responsibility- a sense of joy in the beauty of the world and an awareness of how we can care for it.
Exhibition and Display
In addition to book- based storytelling, I am committed to sharing my illustration practice through exhibitions and displays. Presenting work in galleries or public spaces allows me to experiment with scale, sequencing, and immersive presentation- extending the narrative beyond the page. Exhibiting gives me the opportunity to highlight the research and process behind my illustrations, as well as to explore environmental themes in new, engaging formats. I aim to create displays that are interactive and accessible to children and families, encouraging audiences to connect with illustration as both art and storytelling. My aim is to create a gallery style space on my portfolio website, which will be available and accessible to children and families.
Creative process (extended)
Surface pattern design plays a significant role in my practice, extending my illustrations beyond the page. I create patterns inspired by nature, botanicals and environmental motifs, which develop into products such as prints, stationery and gift wrapping. These designs are sold through my website, giving my work a life beyond books and allowing me to share my aesthetic with a wider audience. This part of my practice strengthens my design sensibility, informs my compositional choices, and deepens my connection with colour, rhythm, and repeated forms – elements that also flow back into my picture book work.
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