Caroline Pedler: explores Big Feelings through storytelling
Cornwall-based picture book author and illustrator Caroline Pedler has spent the past year stepping back from teaching to focus on her own creative development. Her latest self-authored project explores sensitivity and “big feelings,” and in the process she has transformed a temporarily empty gallery space into an open, experimental laboratory for storytelling. What began as a practical need to spread out her work became an unexpected semi-public exhibition, a gathering place for peers, and a catalyst for reshaping her narrative.
Caroline shared a bit about her process and how she came about setting up this exhibition:
“I had created so much work in my sketchbooks that I needed to get them out of the sketchbooks and onto a wall. Being fortunate to have a partner who has a creative space for hire, I used his space just down the road from my studio while it was in-between artist exhibitions to do just that. As soon as I walked in there and laid my stuff out I was joined by my local peers, happy to converse about their experience of feeling big things and having a neurodivergent brain.
The shop has a beautiful big and clear window that was screaming out to be dressed so a few days in I used it as a driver to make decisions about the title, characters and concept, making elements with coloured and textured cut paper and cardboard.
Knowing that I didn’t want to be distracted by the general public I wrote ’This is not an exhibition, it is a test space to write a children’s picture book’ on the window in chalk pens, also so the curious passers by had more of an idea of what I was doing. I later opened the door for three days, hoping to receive more valuable feedback. Dressing the window also scratched an itch I was feeling at that time, in not being professionally visible as a picture book illustrator, having previously walked away from a rolling book contract to create work using a new visual language.“
Through this experience, Caroline gained the space and clarity to fully immerse herself in her story, free from the usual studio distractions. Working at scale allowed her to see the narrative from a fresh perspective, cut back repetition, and shape the book with more intention. Early feedback from visitors was validating and opened up new creative directions. Displaying her pages on the walls helped her see the project as a whole, reducing overwhelm and giving her greater control. Sharing the process online brought new followers and potential future opportunities.The experiment also sparked ideas for larger, more three-dimensional work, energising the project in ways she couldn’t achieve in her studio, while bringing colour and joy to the high street and inspiring other artists to explore the space in similar ways.
Overall this exhibition was a great opportunity for self-discovery and Caroline strongly urges other illustrators to do the same.
If you’d like to work with Caroline, please contact: [email protected]
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