Reader in Residence for Crossing the Tees
I was selected to be a Reader in Residence for the Crossing the Tees Festival for Redcar & Cleveland Libraries. But WHAT is a Reader in Residence? Do you just pull up a comfy chair and dive into the books? Not quite.
The brilliant thing about this residency is that it was so open ended, giving each Reader the opportunity to research and develop a programme of activities around their areas of interest. For me it was always going to have an illustration element.
Hidden Gems
I started rummaging around in Redcar Library’s archive files. This led to the Hidden Gems workshop. Using the photographs as a jumping off point, people researched images and chose how they would like to respond to it. This could be with illustration, or in writing.
Listen and Draw
This was the most relaxing and quietest workshop I’ve ever led!
Using the app Borrowbox, people selected a channel from our headphones and listened to an audio book while they drew. We had a break halfway through for a bit of chat and discussion then it was back to it. It was a very chilled way to spend an evening!
Imagined Islands & Lost Lands
I’ve always looked a book with a map. I looked into maps from popular literature and fantasy maps created by illustrators as well as old maps from the local area I found in Redcar Library. This research became Imagined Islands & Lost Lands.
Beautiful maps were made. They were all very personal to the individual and covered topics like early motherhood, ecology, memories and hobbies. Everyone’s work was stunning!
Character Design
Character design is one of my favourite topics, so I was thrilled when Endevour got in touch and invited me in. The SEN students at Endeavour, Prior Pursglove College were children’s illustrators for the day.
We read books, practiced drawing emotions using shape language, printed textures with a gelli plate and designed brilliant characters! The students dived into it and used their incredible imaginations to create distinctive characters with rich backstories. The characters then populated a large island artwork, created on canvas using the textures printed by the students.
The artwork is installed in Guisbrough Library.
Art Club
For those who find it difficult to get out I did a mini online art club, with art challenges released weekly for the duration of the festival. These illustrations we created for the club.
Thank you to Crossing the Tees Festival, the staff of Redcar & Cleveland Libraries, particularly Terry Murphy and Diane Lonsdale, the staff and students of Endeavour and the brilliant people who came along to get creative. It’s been a blast!
