The making of 'Hetty and the Poppy'

For the past several months I have been working on a very special project: a children's book centred around remembrance, symbolism and the enduring message of the poppy.

The story follows Hettie the Hedgehog, who finds herself with a poppy caught in her spines. Unsure what to do, she seeks help from the other creatures of the woodland, before finally learning the meaning and history behind the poppy.

As with any creative project, many more illustrations were created than could ultimately be included in the finished book.

 Some are early concept sketches, some are character studies and developmental pieces, while others are fully realised illustrations that were later removed as the story evolved and the manuscript was refined.

This collection offers a rare opportunity to own an original piece from the creation of Hettie's story.

These artworks represent the creative journey behind the book — the ideas explored, the characters developed, the scenes reimagined, and the illustrations that helped to shape the final story. While these particular pieces will not appear in the published edition, each played a part in bringing Hettie's world to life.

Every artwork in this collection is an original, one-of-a-kind piece. Once sold, it will not be reproduced or recreated.

Thank you for supporting both my artwork and this new chapter of my creative journey. I hope you enjoy exploring the story behind the story.