1. The Messy
Souvenirs from my trip to Italy — for my sketchbook and my pockets.
I have a soft spot for souvenirs, especially the paper kind: a sweet wrapper, a local bread bag, a receipt too pretty to throw away.
I love collecting small bits of everyday life abroad, especially when they come with texture, typography, or a story.
This is a page from my Italy sketchbook, where I combined one of those paper souvenirs with two of my favourite things: grocery shopping in foreign places and drawing.
Messy Details:
— Found: All kinds of paper memories (loads more to come!)
— Material: A snippet of a bread bag, folded into the page
— More collages with found materials: the messy parade
2. The Marvelous
Something truly special happened: I made a short comic about dementia and my mother. That alone felt meaningful, shaping a personal story into something visual, tender, and true.
And now, this comic is part of the Stories of Home exhibition at the Northern Illustration Festival, and I’ve been selected as a Runner-Up.
I’m so happy, not just about the recognition, but about being among such kind, passionate, generous people who care deeply about storytelling through illustration.
This is why we make.
Marvelous Details:
— Work: My mother and dementia
— What: Runner-Up
— Where: Culture Hartlepool – Art Gallery
3. For the makers
Northern Illustration Festival
I’m staying in Hartlepool for this one.
The Stories of Home exhibition is currently on view here in the North East of England.
It brings together illustrators, printmakers, animators, and visual storytellers: all exploring what “home” can mean, in every form and feeling.
The exhibition is part of the Northern Illustration Festival, which also includes workshops, screenings, talks, and plenty of creative energy.
If you’re anywhere nearby: go.
And if you’re not, maybe Northern of England is just what you needed. We had so much fun!
For the Makers Details:
— Where: Hartlepool
— Part of: the Northern Festival of Illustration
— What: Stories of Home — a meaningful, multi-voiced exhibition
In the photo:
Left: Reya Ahmed
Top right: Chester Holme
In the glass vitrine: TADO
About Three Nice Things
A short blog with three nice things: one messy, one marvellous, one for the makers.
messy – some sketchbook pages or a new character for my messy parade
marvelous – a spotlight on a good thing that happened or happens
one for the makers – a tip from me to you
Published irregularly — I aim for bi-weekly, but lets see what happens. Any tips? Yes please!