"Robert was invaluable throughout the illustration process. His expertise, professionalism, and prompt communication were crucial in meeting my tight deadline. The entire experience was seamless and enjoyable, and I’m excited to collaborate with him again in the future."

– Anthony Jones, Author

Location: National (Remote Collaboration)

Client: Anthony Jones

Sector: Publishing & Education

Category: Illustration, Character Development and Children’s Book Design

Services: Illustration, Visual Identity, Character Design, Print Preparation

Project Duration: March 2022 – Ongoing

Deliverables: Character development, storyboarding, full-page illustrations, cover design, layout artwork and print-ready files.

Collaborators: Anthony Jones (Writing & Concept) | VistaPrint (Short-Run Publishing)

From the moment we were introduced to Hailey the Hedgehog, we knew this was a project we wanted to be part of. Smart, funny, and full of heart, the story carried an important message about how small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact — not just on people, but on the natural world around us. It was clear the author had something special, and it was a joy to help bring it to life through illustration.

The collaboration began with a series of relaxed, idea-led conversations — from initial character descriptions and tone, to how the reader might feel as they turn each page. The brief wasn’t to create a perfectly polished, digital-looking book, but something warm and expressive, full of charm and personality. Hailey, and the world she inhabits, needed to feel believable, lovable, and just a little magical.

We started by sketching early concepts for Hailey herself — exploring posture, expression, and movement — before expanding the character set to include a supporting cast of animals and one very kind little boy. From there, we moved into storyboarding, working closely with the author to plan pacing, page turns, and moments of stillness. Every illustration was created with a hand-drawn quality that balanced whimsy with intention, always guided by the emotional arc of the narrative.

A big part of the joy came from the story’s balance of humour and sincerity. There’s something deeply clever about how the story tackles real environmental issues in a way that feels accessible to children, without ever becoming heavy-handed. Illustrating those ideas — from changing seasons to blocked wildlife corridors — offered a welcome creative challenge. Every scene was composed to support the message, without losing the visual lightness and warmth of the tale.

As the illustrations progressed, we refined the layout for short-run printing, ensuring the book could be shared with local schools, families, and potential publishers. We worked with a trusted local printer to deliver a small batch of beautifully bound copies, giving the author a professional foundation from which to promote the story more widely.

We continue to collaborate with the author on future stories and characters, and it's a process we feel genuinely lucky to be part of. Few projects allow for this level of creative freedom and shared purpose — and even fewer carry a message as quietly powerful as Hailey’s.

This one stayed with us. We hope it stays with readers, too.