Hannah Barrett

I grew up with minimal technology in a suburban area of Oxford, on the doorstep of Shotover, favoured by famous writers such as Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis. Oxford has a rich history of story and is full of character. Tolkien lived and studied here, and wrote his famous books.

I spent summers in ponds, on horses, walking friends dogs, collecting ladybird and caterpillars, making them homes and then releasing them back where I found them. For 2 weeks every summer, my cousins and siblings would stay with our grandma in her caravan situated in the Lake District, she had a pond which was teaming with tadpols and tiny frogs, and my granddad and I would go on evening walks to try to spot foxes, deer, and bats at twilight. I have always drawn animals whether from these experiences, from The Wildlife Factfile I used to collect as a child, or from disney characters: I would design spin-off characters and combine franchises.

Animals were more relatable than people when I was little. I have fond memories of my garden and in particular an apple tree, a complicated relationship with a rosebush whose thorns would inevitably impale me as I insisted on walking around bare-footed at any opportunity.