Chris is an avid reader and has an extensive collection of books based on magic, myth, and legend. He particularly enjoys finding antique copies of faerie tales, which provide him with endless inspiration for his own work through their many dark and mischievous characters. The importance of literature in Chris’s life means book illustration is a labour of love and something he would very much like to do more of. Therefore, if you are seeking an illustrator for a weird and wonderful story, please email rainbowsalmon@hotmail.co.uk.
The Scissor Man
This handmade book tells a story from Der Struwwelpeter ("shock-headed Peter" or "Shaggy Peter"). Der Struwwelpeter is a German children’s book that was created by Heinrich Hoffmann in 1845. Each story has a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an exaggerated way. In Die Geschichte vom Daumenlutscher ("The Story of the Thumb-Sucker") a boy who ignores the warnings of his mother and continues to suck his thumb has them cut off by a roving tailor - The Scissor Man.
The Ballad of Captain d'Arkhouse
This series illustrates an original rhyming ballad by Joanna Graham. Taking inspiration from a well-known biblical event, the story tells the tale of a mysterious captain who saves castaways while sailing the seas.
Although originally created as a collaborative “passion project”, Chris and Joanna would be delighted to see the work released more widely in print.