What’s the hardest piece you’ve ever worked on?

Out of all the art I’ve created—Hypno Bats, op art patterns, uncommon animals—nothing challenged me quite like my first major book illustration project for YouTubers Elijah and Crumpet.

I was tasked with illustrating Motivate Man, a kids’ book featuring Elijah, a real-life boy. Unlike my usual work, where I could lean into abstraction or stylisation, this required consistency—every illustration had to look like the same person.

The Challenge: Capturing a Real Person in a Stylised Way

I had never done anything like this before. If I’ve ever redrawn anything (or anyone) the most, it’s Elijah. Every page felt like a new test—getting the angles right, making sure his expressions matched the story, and balancing realism with an engaging, illustrated style. Some pages came together smoothly. Others had me redrawing Elijah’s face over and over, questioning my sanity.

The Breakthrough

Somewhere along the way, I found my flow. The more I drew him, the more natural it became. By the time I worked on Super Scout, my second book for Elijah and Crumpet, I had a much better handle on it. The experience pushed me beyond my comfort zone and made me a better illustrator.

The Reward

Seeing Motivate Man and Super Scout come to life was incredibly rewarding. The challenge of drawing Elijah over and over again? 100% worth it. These books weren’t just about telling a story—they were about representation, inspiration, and showing that a boy with Down syndrome can be the hero of his own adventure.

So, what’s the hardest piece I’ve ever worked on? Definitely Motivate Man. But it’s also one of the pieces I’m most proud of.