Becca hall

@beccahallillustration

“I’ve got a thing for nature,” says Becca Hall, whose journals are filled with sketches of woodland creatures, pets, seashells, broods of chickens, forest floor treasures, clusters of trees and ocean waves. Growing up in the Lake District in north-west England, now living in Cornwall, Becca says her surroundings have long been a great source of inspiration.

As a commissioned artist for children’s picture books, Becca is now a full-time illustrator. She keeps four sketchbooks on the go at the one time, these private pages allowing her to create whatever she wants. “It’s just for me, which makes it extra special,” says Becca. “There are no rules or boundaries – whatever I want to draw or note or create is up to me. They are also a great place to get through artist blocks, to try out new techniques or materials or just draw with my favourite pen! Whenever I have found a new way of working or illustrating, it’s because of my journals.”

Becca doesn’t have strict rules about what materials she uses; instead she goes with how she’s feeling on the day. “Sometimes I love to sit and draw with my Sailor Fude pen and nothing else; other days, I want to bring expression and colour into my work and will use water-based markers, pencil crayons, neocolours and pastels,” she says. “My favourite coloured pencils at the moment are Caran D’ache Luminance and Derwent Lightfast – their colours and the texture of their marks are so beautiful.”

Selecting a book with nice paper that isn’t too expensive – so you don’t feel precious about it – is key to keeping an art journal, Becca says. And a rule to break is that you need to start on page one. “Start in the middle of the book if that first page feels too scary – no one said journals have to be in date order,” she adds.

Becca’s sketchbooks have taught her about mindfulness. “Once you get into the rhythm of drawing and documenting in your sketchbook, you’ll start looking at everything in a different light,” she says. “A bird sat on a post, a market trader setting out their vegetables ready for the day, a fishing boat unloading their catch, even an old couple waiting for the bus. It makes everyday life more interesting and fuller, and slows down life in a beautiful way.”