Commissioned as the key visual for the British Library’s Fantasy: Realms of Imagination, this A1 drawing was created entirely by hand on paper with a traditional dip pen. Its dense composition brings together dozens of literary and mythological references across the exhibition’s four themes: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Worlds & Portals, Epics & Quests, and the Weird & Uncanny.
The illustration became a complete campaign asset: exhibition identity, book cover, entrance graphics, outdoor advertising, interior wall graphics, opening-night atrium projection and merchandise.
In 2024 the project won the Professional Advertising category at the World Illustration Awards and received major recognition across Communication Arts, American Illustration 43 and the V&A Illustration Awards shortlist.
Storycatchers reports that the exhibition sold 56,000 tickets—24% above target—making it the British Library’s most successful exhibition since the pandemic despite disruption to ticket sales during the Library’s cyberattack.
British Library interview
SAA interview and making-of
Storycatchers case study
World Illustration Awards
Communication Arts recognition
