Say the word ‘studio’ and most people picture the same thing: an easel, half-finished canvases propped against the wall, maybe a smell of turpentine. Say ‘illustrator’ specifically, and you might add a stack of picture books, or a wall of pet portraits.

Mine looks nothing like that.

I was attracted to illustration as a career in part because of the variety of things illustrators do. Illustration is all around us: on products we buy, in newspapers, magazines and books that we read, on advertising hoardings and public transport, as wayfinding tools in the places that we live… the list goes on and on!

I'm a total magpie — always looking for the next shiny thing— so being able to pick-and-mix what I work on really appeals to me. In the last five years of working as an illustrator I’ve tried all sorts of things, but have gradually settled into three main areas of work: commissions (increasingly for organisations rather than private clients), creating self-initiated work to sell (originals and products, online and at markets and events) and teaching.

So when I open my doors for Berwick Open Studios on 26–27 September here's roughly what you'll find instead.

I’ve been thinking about what my 2027 Calendar could look like, but once again I need your help to decide what the theme should be! I’ve narrowed my ideas down to four themes and given a sense of the sorts of illustrations that might be included, but can you help me choose?

I don't remember exactly when I first said it properly. But I remember how the conversation went.

"What do you do?"
"I'm an illustrator."
"Ooh, picture books?"
"No, er, I do all sorts of things, like, er, maps and, er, drawing wildlife."
"Oh. Will I have seen your stuff anywhere?"
"Probably not... I've only just started out." [Embarrassed trailing off.]

The thing is, I said some version of that last line for nearly four years.

When I received the grant funding for this project back in September, I set myself quite a challenge. A series of original ink illustrations. A set of community workshops. A self-guided walking trail. And an exhibition. Looking back now, with Illustrating Wilson's Tales open at Berwick Library as of today, it's hard to believe how much has been packed into the last few months — and how much I've learned along the way.

Creating those first three illustrations — one each for Launcelot Errington and his Nephew Mark, Patrick Hume and the Governor of Berwick, and Grizel Cochrane — was an immersive experience. Each one involved working through the full process: moodboards, character development, thumbnail sketches, layout drawings, and finally the finished ink and wash artwork. It was slow, and deliberately so. All that thinking and decision-making felt essential.

After completing the research phase of my Illustrating Wilson’s Tales of the Borders project I began the next stage: Experiment and Explore. This is the point where my ideas moved off the page and into materials, and where the focus shifted from analysis to hands-on testing, learning, and play. Rather than working towards finished illustrations straight away, this phase was about discovering what feels right for the stories I’ve chosen, and for me as an illustrator.

Since receiving grant funding to begin my project inspired by JM Wilson and his Tales of the Borders, I’ve been taking some time to lay the groundwork for the illustration part of the project. Instead of diving straight into drawing, this early stage has been about slowing down and spending time with the stories themselves — getting a feel for the characters, settings, and themes before trying to respond to them visually.

There’s always a mix of excitement and nerves when a new product arrives from the printers. After months of drawing, tweaking colours, finalising the layout and ordering samples, it is always a relief to finally open the box and see the finished tea towel calendars stacked neatly inside.

Summer’s in full swing and the next couple of months are looking busy in the best way - a lovely mix of creative work, meeting clients and customers at markets, events and workshops, gentle family adventures, and a few moments just for me!

I’d love to create another calendar tea towel for 2026, but I need your help to decide what the theme should be! I’ve narrowed my ideas down to five themes and given a sense of the sorts of illustrations that might be included, but can you help me by voting for your favourite?

As we kick-off another new financial year, I thought it would be helpful to reintroduce Coostie Illustration and Design, with a little bit of information about what I do and how you can work with me.

I'm Ali and I love illustrating British wildlife, bringing a wide range of flora and fauna to life through my drawings and paintings, where I aim to capture the spirit and form of birds, plants and animals in watercolour, pen-and-ink, or coloured pencil.

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is fast-approaching (24th - 26th January 2025) and I thought I’d take this moment to share with you why I love taking part in this citizen science project to observe and record the birds that visit my garden, what I do to prepare and how the activity inspires my art.

I decided that this year for the surface design side of my business that I’d respond to one design challenge each month provided by the fabric, wallpaper and home decor company, Spoonflower. Spoonflower actually release a new challenge prompt every two weeks, but I decided that it would be more manageable if I stuck to completing one challenge each month throughout 2024. This also allowed me to pick prompts that felt more applicable to my style - although I did end up creating some designs in a slightly different style.

Berwick-upon-Tweed, perched on the border between England and Scotland, is a town full of charm and history. One of its many standout features is its three impressive bridges over the River Tweed, each with its own story to tell and views to provide. If you’re visiting the town, don’t forget to add them to your itinerary!

I'm really pleased to be able to announce that earlier this year I applied to Create Berwick for funding to support the development of some new workshops and I was awarded a grant! With thanks to Create Berwick's funders - the North East Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council.

My creative practice is fuelled by my love of the natural world, with much of my self-led illustration and design inspired by nature-based subjects. I really wanted to be able to support others to explore their creativity and help them to reconnect with nature to improve their wellbeing.

Thanks to this funding, I'm now a certified 'Green Sketching Ambassador' and I thought I'd just share a little about what exactly Green Sketching is and why everyone should give it a try.

When I started teaching myself to draw and paint as part of my mid-life career change, I seemed to unconsciously gravitate towards wildlife and nature subjects followed by a gradual focus on illustrating birds - specifically British birds - in all their variety.

I tend to leave out projects that I'm working on, as if I tidy things away they often end up never being finished! However, the sheer volume of competing projects I've reached over the last month definitely requires a bit of a Spring Clean!

I’ve been participating in the #birbruary challenge hosted by Amanda Pearson of Winging It Drawing to draw a songbird found in the British Isles every day throughout the month of February, in support of the charity Songbird Survival.

There are quite a few ‘easy wins’ that I’ve already made to try to ensure that the making of my art is having a minimal impact on the environment, including around the sketchbooks I use as well as my media. I’m planning to make 2024 the year I pay even more attention to my supplies and materials and I’m hoping to start experimenting with making my own botanical inks and pigments.