Happy New Year, everyone! I couldn’t think of a better way to welcome 2026 than by sharing this blog post, especially after such an exciting and creative year.

Looking back, the past year has been full of growth and surprises. Writing and illustrating my very first children’s book has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. Creating a children’s book had been a dream of mine for many years, and September 2025 everything aligned, the time, the energy, and the enthusiasm I needed to take on this mammoth task.

The inspiration came from my eldest son and, in truth, from all my family. Over the years I’ve written many stories, refining ideas as I went, and my children were my first audience and my most honest critics! The real breakthrough came when I realised the story was already there. My life as an artist and art teacher, and my deep love for encouraging creativity in young people over the past twenty years, naturally became the heart of the book. The snail, one of the most playful and recognisable characters in my artwork, felt like the perfect personality. Through the snail, I wanted to inspire children to draw, to explore, and to feel confident in their own creativity, making the book a natural extension of my art studio.

The story follows a snail who feels a gentle restlessness and discovers that by stepping outside his comfort zone and trying new things, like painting, he experiences joy, confidence, and growth. He begins to feel bigger inside, and that sense of inner expansion is something I believe every child can relate to. From my own experience, I know that bringing your inner world to life is deeply empowering and uplifting.

I used artistic language and terminology throughout the book to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful conversations about art. When the snail artist meets art dealer Mr Clover, the story playfully references iconic artworks, including Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, Monet’s Water Lilies by Claude Monet, The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, and of course The Snail by Henri Matisse.

I’ll be completely honest writing the story was a challenge at first, but it became part of the journey. My family patiently listened as I wrote and read aloud again and again, and their encouragement kept me going. What truly transformed the process was changing my approach. I realised I didn’t need to begin as a writer, I could begin as an artist. So I started by drawing. I illustrated every page before adding the words, and that’s when everything fell into place. The story began to flow naturally, and for the first time I truly felt my writing voice. 

Taking on the challenge in my own way became the theme of the book itself. My husband, Stephen also an artist with a strong design background worked with me to craft each page. Together, we made a conscious decision to preserve the authenticity of my oil paintings as a statement of my individuality. Stephen hand-made canvases to match the pre-decided page sizes of the book, allowing the artwork to remain true to its original form.

My first children’s picture book, created for three to eight-year-olds and anyone young at heart was published in Belfast in November 2025. To celebrate this milestone, I hosted a press book launch at my studio one evening, followed by a family friendly book signing on the Saturday.

We transformed my stable-building studio into a winter wonderland, decorating the loft ceiling with natural trees hand-painted in white and wrapped in twinkling lights. Over-sized cardboard cut-outs brought the book’s characters to life, and all the original paintings from the book were exhibited alongside my very first sketches.

Dawn Crothers with The Gourmet Boys Mark and Brian having a Question and Answer session at the Book Launch.

The evening concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which I was interviewed by local influencers, The Gourmet Boys. It was a hugely successful and memorable event.

The family day was equally successful. When I arrived at the studio, I was delighted to see a line of eager children waiting to come in. I had visited local primary schools beforehand, inviting pupils to take part in the snail celebrations, and the response was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed staying to join the planned art class and book signing, with plenty of photo opportunities and even snail guests to add to the fun!

The school outreach has been incredibly rewarding, and I am thrilled to already have many school visits planned for the coming year. Pre-sales of my debut book exceeded all expectations, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported and believed in the project from the very beginning. Your encouragement gave me so much confidence, even before the book was printed.

 I was absolutely thrilled to see my book available to buy on the Waterstones website, part of such a successful and internationally recognised book retailer. I was also delighted to see The Snail Artist on the shelves of one of Belfast’s finest independent bookshops, Books Paper Scissors, located in South Belfast near the Botanic Gardens, Queen’s University, and the Ulster Museum.

The book is also available at the Down Arts Centre in Downpatrick, where I plan to hold my next exhibition and book signing this, Easter. I will share the exact date as soon as it is confirmed. Visit Belfast has been another wonderful stockist, with its central location directly opposite Belfast City Hall.

The Snail Artist has proven to be a popular gift choice in many local shops, including Urban Orchard in Holywood, as well as Story Box, Beauty Culture and The Secret Garden, Dundonald in East Belfast. I am always delighted to hear from new stockists and remain open to educational collaborations, exhibitions, and book readings. My snail car and over-sized knitted snail mascot are always ready to visit schools and businesses, near and far.

Once again, thank you to everyone who attended the book launch and purchased my first children’s book. The feedback and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and it fills me with pride and joy to know that children are truly loving The Snail Artist.

Dawn x