Arts Thread

Abi is an illustrator and maker. Working across children's publishing, print, and sculpture with a practice that is big, bold, and playful. Her work focuses on finding ways to bring fabrication and physicality into illustrated worlds.For her final year project, Abi created a contemporary children's picture book inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, reimagining the narrative through a more empathetic lens. In her version, the central character befriends the creatures he is taught to fear, challenging the idea that danger is always inherent rather than constructed. The work explores themes of courage, curiosity, and the importance of questioning inherited narratives.The project developed through iterative sketching and storytelling. Alongside the book, Abi created a series of hand-made puppets and a full scale interactive sculpture representing the book characters, extending the narrative into a performative, public space. These puppets are designed to be used in live readings, encouraging engagement and allowing children to connect physically and emotionally with the characters.