Author Kiran Kaur with CCAD illustration lecturer Tom Burton and illustration student Blue Lunn, 17, of Saltburn
A NORTH EAST writer is drawing on the talents of local designers to help illustrate her first children’s story books.
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UTHOR Kiran Kaur has enlisted BTEC Extended Diploma in Graphic Design students from Cleveland College of Art & Design to bring the characters in her rhyming books, The Draught and Puddle in a Muddle, to life. Kiran, 28, of Acklam, Middlesbrough, who began writing four years ago, said, “The inspiration for my first book all stemmed from telling my daughter ‘don’t let the draught in’ when she was coming in the house. “She didn’t really understand and was a bit scared about letting in a ‘draught’ as though it were some kind of monster. “This gave me an idea so I started to put some thoughts together on paper and produced my first short story about an imaginary mischievous monster dreamt up by a five-year-old girl called Poppy.”
“It was great to find CCAD right on my doorstep, bursting with talented young designers.” Author Kiran Kaur But being a busy mum of two Kiran’s handwritten stories were eventually put to one side and slowly began to gather dust.
An illustration for the character of Poppy
“It was four years before I looked at them again and it was only when reading them to a neighbour, who suggested that I post them on the internet, that I got a call from a US publisher,” said Kiran. “They were really interested in my copy and after I sent them some more of my work they agreed to publish the first two stories but wanted pictures to accompany the text.” Going on line to find someone who could help with her illustrations, Kiran stumbled upon a news story about a Cleveland College of Art & Design student who’d had their artwork published. “It was great to find CCAD right on my doorstep, bursting with talented young designers, and after meeting lecturer Tom Burton I knew that I’d come to the right place.”