Way back in November 2019 we hosted our annual competition looking for talented illustrators to help us create a calendar inspired by favourite books and what it means to be bookish. We were overwhelmed by the brilliance of the entries and spent hours ‘oooh-ing’ and ‘aahhh-ing’ over all the beautiful bookish art (and debating who our winners should be)!
Once we’d picked our winners, we prouduly shared their artwork in our Unashamedly Bookish Calendar for 2020, which was featured in our December FIRESIDE FAVOURITES box (and there are a few copies left in our shop if you’d like to buy one!).
Now we are thrilled to showcase the work of these very talented arty individuals and we would like to thank everyone for entering and sharing your bookish art with us. We think you are all FANTASTIC!
Chelsea takes inspiration from all things nature and especially loves landscapes and exploring the world for ideas. She is a creative soul who adores painting, writing, and playing music.
Find more of Chelsea’s artwork on Instagram: @chelseahk_art & Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/HoiKaiArt
Beatrice (Velbe) is a freelance illustrator, translator and transcriber. She mostly spends her time creating stories through illustration.
Find more of Beatrice’s artwork on Instagram: @velbe_ and @shopvelbe on Facebook: @akosivelbe and on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/velbe_
Ellie has always been arty, but has recently moved on from animal portraits to a more illustrative style. She has a love for richly described stories with lovable characters.
Find more of Ellie’s artwork on Instagram: @ells_winch and @the_pencil_whisperer
Drawing has always been Carmen’s passion. Her favourite medium is watercolour and she loves to create art inspired by animals, mangas or humans.
Find more of Carmen’s artwork on her website: www.kimcarlika.com and on Instagram: @kimcarlika
Christine is a Costume Design student from Scotland and a self-confessed bookworm. She loves combining her love of drawing with her love of reading.
Find more of Christine’s artwork on Instagram: @christinewallacedesign
Oliva is a visually impaired artist who is inspired by fantasy and interesting combinations in line and colour. She works mostly in marker pen and enjoys the feel and the vibrancy of colour that they can produce.
Find more of Olivia’s artwork on Instagram: @oliviatempleton and Twitter: @oliviatempleto6
Laura works in a Library where she is surrounded by books. She spends free time illustrating zines, comics and picture books.
Find more of Laura’s artwork on Twitter: @drawingbylaura
Jennifer is always tempted to open a book when she should be working or sleeping! Jennifer has been turning her illustrations into products since 2014.
Find more of Jennifer’s artwork on Instagram: @giftingmoon & on her website: www.giftingmoon.com
Joyce, otherwise known as Loesterli/thepurplepenguinph, is a lover of all things colourful and magical. Books are her inspiration in making art and in surviving daily life.
Find more of Joyce’s artwork on Instagram: @thepurplepenguinph
Twinkle has always been fascinated by artwork and the ability to create something beautiful and mesmerising from a blank canvas. As a big book-lover she is thrilled to combine her love of art with magical bookish worlds.
Find more of Twinkle’s artwork on Instagram: @littlebookbar_shop and on Etsy: www.etsy.com/in-en/shop/littlebookbar
H.S. is a self-taught illustrator/artist and has been a bookworm FOREVER! Much of her art is inspired by the enjoyment, enlightenment and refuge that books provide.
Find more of H. S’ artwork on Instagram: @h.s.illustration. H.S’ illustration ‘Book Hunting is on!’ is also featured on the front cover of our calendar.
Reyhaneh is from Iran and has a degree in chemistry. She teaches watercolours and has international certificates in painting and professional watercolour.
Find more of Reyhaneh’s artwork on Instagram: @watercolor_art_reyhan
A big thanks goes out to our winners.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Lots of love, Libby & Kate xx