About Smy's Work

The following four outputs demonstrate how Smy's practice-based research in the field of children's book illustration is preoccupied with landscape and the way that natural forms and light can be employed to convey atmosphere and a sense of place.

Observational drawing underpins her professional practice, and Smy see this as crucial to her investigations into a sense of 'where' and 'how'. For Smy, drawing from life fuels imaginary practice, and it is therefore essential to draw people, their environments and their landscapes to inform one's research. The more information gained through drawing the world, the more understanding Smy has of how to manipulate image-making to portray the atmosphere and light in imagined imagery.

The four outputs selected here traverse age ranges and genres within the field of children's illustration, but each output expresses Smy's concern with producing imagery that could be described as 'lyrical' in feel with a focus on nature and the natural elements.

Smy is currently researching ways of include natural elements and atmosphere in mainstream children's illustrated books.

Smy's practice based research is within the highly competitive field of mainstream children's fiction, and all these outputs are mass produced and co-editioned internationally. Smy's concern with the lyrical and natural is particular to her own practice in this field, and it is on the basis of these preoccupations that Smy receives her commissions.

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