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.

I applied for some grant funding this summer for support for a project working in partnership with local organisation, the Wilson's Tales Project, and Berwick-upon-Tweed Library. With sincere thanks to Create Berwick and their funders - the North East Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council - I'm thrilled to announce that the grant was awarded in late August. In addition to creating some illustrations of my own inspired by Wilson's Tales of the Borders, I'm going to be designing a self-guided walking trail leaflet, and running some workshops to support others to create some artwork inspired by the Tales, culminating in an exhibition in the Library.