Lara Hawthorne

Published by Big Picture Press, 2020.

In Small Worlds Earth and Small Worlds Water, explore nature up close with over 70 flaps in each book!

Small Worlds Earth:

Look at what happens under the leaf litter in a forest, find out what lives in a single desert oasis, examine the top of a Brazil nut tree in the Amazon and much more.

What will you find when you explore these small worlds? Prepare to be surprised by the variety of life on each page of this gorgeous lift-the-flap book.

A fascinating exploration of the life and cycles in nature's small worlds.

Small Worlds Water:

Explore habitats on a small scale. Look closely at what lives in a rock pool, explore the roots of a mangrove tree; plunge deep into an underwater cave and more.

What will you find when you explore these small worlds? Prepare to be surprised by the variety of life on each page

of this gorgeous lift-the-flap book.

Herbert’s Garden is published by Big Picture Press (2020) and is the UK edition of my original title ‘Herberto’, with additional material at the back.

‘Each creature in the garden has something special to offer, but what about a slug? Slow, slimy and greedy, Herbert wishes he could weave shimmering webs like spiders, or create wonderful underground worlds like ants. But when his lonely night-time wanderings through the garden take him up into the treetops, he and the other creatures are astonished at the beauty he has created. Spotting spreads plus helpful hints on how to look after the creatures in your own garden add to this garden-inspired tale’

Commissioned piece inspired by the West African Rainforest and the animals that live in it, with specific focus on the Khaya Ivorensis tree (centre).

Written and illustrated

Alba the Hundred Year Old Fish, published by Big Picture Press

Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to brightly coloured coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. What are these bits of plastic and metal? As the coral reef fades, Alba decides to leave her home behind. Can an old fish teach the world how to bring colour back to the ocean?

Publication date 21st Feb 2019

Format Hardback

Number of pages 32

Dimensions (height & width) 
290 mm x 225 mm

‘This is the second title in the series, The Christmas Choir, which beautifully illustrates beloved Christmas carols. Don't miss Silent Night, the first title in the series.

Celebrate the magic of Christmas time with this well-loved traditional poem, The Twelve Days of Christmas, beautifully illustrated by Lara Hawthorne.

Take a walk through each beautiful scene brimming with details that will remind you of the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Perfect to read with your true love.’

Press:

Kirkus Reviews, 2020. Starred review: click here to read in full

Publishers Weekly, 2020: Click here to read in full

Written and illustrated The Night Flower, published by Big Picture Press

As the summer sun sets over the Arizonan desert, wildlife gathers to witness a very special annual event. The night flower is about to bloom. This celebration transforms the quiet desert for just a short few hours into a riot of colour and sound, as mammals and insects congregate from miles away to take part in this miracle of nature. From pollinating fruit bats to howling mice and reptilian monsters, explore the unusual wildlife the desert has to offer in this beautiful rhyming non-fiction picture book.

Publication date 8 Feb 2018

Format Hardback

Number of pages 32

Dimensions (height & width) 286 mm x 223 mm

A piece for an ongoing narrative project. 

Illustrated cover for England: Poems from a School, edited by Kate Clanchy. Published by Picador

Book description:

'Not just good for school children, but great by any standard' - Phillip Pullman

Oxford Spires Academy is a small comprehensive school with 30 languages – and one special focus: poetry. In the last five years, its students have won every prize going. They have been celebrated in the Guardian ('The Very Quiet Foreign Girls Poetry Group’), and the subject of a BBC Radio 3 documentary.

In this unique anthology, their mentor and teacher prize-winning poet Kate Clanchy brings their poems together, and allowing readers to see why their work has caused such a stir. By turns raw and direct, funny and powerful, lyrical and heartbreaking, they document the pain of migration and the exhilaration of building a new land, an England of a thousand voices. In England: Poems from a School, you will find poetry is easy to read and hard to forget, as fresh, bright and present as the young migrants who produced it.

Publication date 14th June 2018

Number of pages 80

Dimensions 19.7 x 1 x 13.3 cm

Illustrated book for the carol Silent Night, Published by Lincoln Children's books, imprint of Quarto

'A standout among books to share on Christmas Eve.' – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

'The Christmas Choir series launches with this reverent and accessible adaptation of a favorite carol.' –Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with this beautifully illustrated book, based on the world's best-loved carol. Rediscover the Nativity Story in all its glory – from quaking shepherds to heaven-sent angels – as the song lyrics are brought to life on every spread. The world’s diversity is reflected in a cast of characters with a range of skin tones. A gorgeous book for all the family to share during the festive season.

Publication date 18th October 2018

Format Hardback

Number of pages 32

Dimensions 22.6 x 1 x 27.9 cm

Piece for an ongoing personal narrative project

Illustrations for a children's book I wrote about a creative slug called Herberto, first published in Portuguese by Bruaá edição e design. Herberto has also been published in France, Slovenia, Brazil and South Korea.

Korean audio book available to watch here

Hidden Adventures is available for pre-order now! Out July the 9th. Published by Red Shed, Egmont.

‘Grab hold of your magic red lens for an interactive search-and-find adventure around the world to see if you can spot all of the hidden treasures as you whizz into space, dive below the ocean, trek through the jungle, explore an ancient Egyptian tomb and much more. Read about the true stories and fascinating facts behind the objects you collect on your journey, some treasures can be found in the most unexpected and unusual places . . .

Each fun quest takes you on a different adventure to find real-life hidden treasures, surprising artefacts and extraordinary animals. This novelty book is perfect for children aged 6+ and Lara Hawthorne’s engaging and detailed artwork leads you on a journey like no other in this jam-packed, search-and-find treasure hunt.’

An illustration I made in collaboration with the band Low Island, in response to their song 'The Whole World Tucked Away'.

With ten fellow Falmouth illustrators we created a project called Beginning Middle End. Using a wordless three panel narrative format, we each responded to a theme to produce a weekly hand bound publication. 

Illustrations loosely based on an African folktale called 'The Python Wife'. The story is about a jealous panther whose aim to kill the Python Wife goes tragically wrong. 

Magical Pale Ale pump clip illustration for Skinner's Brewery

Illustrations for Christmas poem The King of Christmas written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and published by Picador. More information about the book and where to purchase is available here

Illustrations based on Amos Tutuola's Palm Wine Drinkard

Snake Palace is an illustration inspired by a folktale from Angela Carter's book of Fairy Tales. A lady accidentally marries a boa snake, and finds herself in a palace of snakes.

My piece for the 'hive' exhibition at Hamilton House, which featured a a range of work from artists based within the building. The aim of the event was to celebrate the shared creative space in wake of the building’s potentially jeopardised future.

Book jacket design ideas for a book about running by my cousin, Urban Praprotnik. 

Illustration for a folklore exhibition. I reflected a Liberian tale about how the Pygmy hippo holds a bright diamond in its mouth. At night the shine helps guide the hippo through the dense forest.

Illustrations for writer Emma London's Lexi. 

Illustrations for Ann Kelley's As I Was Going to St Ives

My entries for the Bristol Pound competition. Illustrating the themes 'Arts and Culture' and 'European Green Capital 2015'

Illustrations based on a folktale of The Owlman of Mawnan Smith. Paintings for the Merchants Manor Hotel magazine through A-Side Studio

Bakey cakey, cakey bakey! Little painting for a birthday card design I sell on my online shop.

Album artwork for Plïnkï Plønkï

The painting is inspired by a folk tale called 'A Bad Way to Treat Friends' from a collection of stories called 'The Girl who married a Lion', retold by Alexander McCall Smith.

This piece was part of an exhibition called 'Prints Charming' in aid of Art Refuge UK. 

Cover designs for Kelsi Farrington’s prospective cookery book, Potcake. The book is a fusion of Bahamian recipes and her personal memories of growing up in the Bahamas.
 

Invertebrates for an editorial in Life magazine

Illustration for Roger Omar’s illustrated book of dreams, check other artworks out here.