"Circus Wild" is a pen and watercolour celebration of magical joy, inspired by a vibrant photograph of a mischievous monkey enjoying a stolen lollipop at a temple in Thailand, captured by my goddaughter during her travels. To enhance the story, I set the scene within a whimsical circus world, bursting with colour and life—where younger monkeys watch with hopeful eyes, dreaming of their own sugary prizes. The composition channels the energy and theatrical flair seen in Dame Laura Knight’s circus paintings, creating a backdrop that is even more fantastical than the original photo. As with my other work, I begin by plotting the design in pencil, then layer on fade-proof ink with nibs of varying sizes for dramatic and delicate shading, blending black, grey, and hints of sepia for depth. The image comes alive through translucent watercolour washes, carefully built from light to dark, adding panache and joyful exuberance to this playful scene.
