Cover illustration, The Boy Who Built a Wall.
The Boy Who Built a Wall Around Himself, written by Ali Redford
The Mermaid Who Couldn't is a children's picture book dealing with feelings of shame and neglect. Aimed specifically at children who have dealt with early childhood trauma and perhaps been in the care system.Written for children 4+ the book uses metaphors to show how children can find a sense of self worth.
The opening illustration from The Boy Who Built a Wall.
Storyboard
Finished illustrations.

The very first sketches I did of the boy. Myself and the author had initially thought the boy should be older as seen here. In the end though, we liked the extra vulnerability that making him younger gave him. We needed to be sure that the reader would see the fragility in his isolation.