In this series of works, the intention is to expand children’s illustration beyond the pages of a book, and allow the walls of our homes to become a canvas for the narrative, creating immersive stories in our spaces, piquing imagination. Amanda’s two children inspire her with humour and a sense of fun, while her own childhood memories allude to being captivated by the magic of reading.
"As a child, I recall frequently going back to certain pages in picture books to admire and absorb myself in the enchantment of the illustrations. It is this notion that led to the concept of creating visible artworks that have emerged from their picturebook cocoon to enchant the spaces around us."
Amanda Lavis is a practice-based PhD researcher at Cambridge School of Art. She holds an MA in Visual Arts: Illustration (Distinction) from the University of the Arts London, and a first class BA (Hons) degree in Illustration and Visual Communication from the University of Westminster. Her field is primarily situated in children’s illustration, with diverse interests in craft and textiles influencing her work. Amanda works in a bricolage of materials; each having its own narrative contribution.