17/09/2025
Award-winning creator Anna Walker shares the artistic process and inspiration behind her new picture book, ππ¦π΅πΈπ¦π¦π―, out 30 September from Scribble.
A poetic tale of connection, Anna's stunning illustrations in spray-paint and pencil tell the story of an unlikely friendship between a cabbage moth and a cricket, and what happens when they meet for the first time...
βοΈ Can you tell us a bit about your process in creating Between?
I began with ink and pencil sketches, using them as outlines to cut stencils. Using the medium of spray-paint captured movement and shadows, which I then refined with delicate pencil work. I was delighted we could print the book using spot colors (Pantones) instead of traditional CMYK printingβthis allowed the intricate details of the original artwork to be reproduced in the pages.
π What inspired this book?
In Autumn 2023 I was contemplating the space between things, both physical and emotional, between love, loss, and connection. And then one March morning, I discovered a cricket and cabbage moth resting together on the windowsill in the studio. Imagining their time together became the silvery thread I followed to create the story of Between.
βοΈ Is there an illustration from this book that you are most proud of, and if so, why?
I am particularly fond of the dance scene. The way the Cabbage Moth sweeps her wings with joy and the Cricketβs soulful sashay across the page makes my heart leap too!
π Do you have any tips for aspiring childrenβs book creators?
In 2011 Mac Barnett wrote The Picture Book Proclamation, a manifesto urging childrenβs authors and illustrators to innovate and see picture books as a form rather than a genre. www.thepicturebook.co/ π Reading this as an aspiring children's book creator was inspiring, and still is! I believe in childrenβs books being crafted with care, giving children the benefit of bringing their own wisdom and imagination, attention given to the imagery, narrative, design and every detail whether it be the endpapers, title page or spine. My advice is to be brave, try new things and keep going!
βοΈ Who are some of your favourite childrenβs illustrators, and how have they influenced your work?
As a child I loved looking at Fairy Tales and some of my favourites were illustrated by Arthur Rackham. I was fascinated by the darkness and magical quality of the illustrations. I was often drawn to books which had hints of sadness but also joy, such as A Necklace of Raindrops written by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Jan Pienkowski. I tried to capture poignant moments in Between, much of which, I think, are a reflection of the books I held dear as a child. Aside from childrenβs book illustrators, the exquisite textile work of MinΓ€ Perhonen is a strong influence on the organic shapes in the world of Cricket and Cabbage Moth. And a beautiful series of Japanese Woodblock prints I saw at the Rijksmuseum played a role in the tone of the imagery and colour palette.
ππ¦π΅πΈπ¦π¦π― is out later this month. Available to pre-order.
https://www.scribblekidsbooks.com/books/p/between
