Maybe the Moon

Winner of the 2016 LOM ART PRIZE, Frances Ives' "inventive and original" entry was selected unanimously by the judges, who remarked that her "stunning" watercolour illustration helped this "very talented" illustrator stand out in the crowd. She completed her MA in Illustration from University of the Arts London in 2014.

Maybe the Moon is Frances' first picture book. The story was inspired by her own experience of moving to London from the countryside, and the impact that a change in environment can have. She set out to create a story about how change, although sometimes daunting, can always be a positive and uplifting experience if you accept and embrace your environment, and most importantly, the people around you.

She takes her inspiration from the structures and people that surround her, drawing from both observation and memory of a place or time. City living has influenced a lot of her work, but her most abiding source of inspiration is the constant yet ever-changing sky and all of its colours.

Asked where her love of illustration comes from, Frances describes how, as a child, she loved her poster paints and making a big mess on every available surface. This hasn't changed much. She still works primarily in water-based media, but these days she mostly tries to keep it on the paper.

www.francesives.com
@francesives