Happy Friday! Ready for the weekend!? We're feeling like coffee and cake over here at Orange Beak, who's with us?
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This gorgeous cafe illustrated by the brilliant Mikey Please is from his brilliant book 'The Cafe At The Edge of The Woods'. Mikey will be joining this month to talk us through his career, process and inspiration. Scroll to see if you can spot tiny rock creatures dancing!
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#MikeyPlease #OrangeBeak #ChildrensIllustration #PictureBooks
I had so much fun this week doing a workshop with @orangebeakstudio reviving back an old fun challenge that got my creative juices going Accidental ink Drops and Paper Bits. Thanks so much for everyone the signed up and for the wonderful folks @orangebeakstudio for hosting me. Be sure to check all their wonderful guest speakers and workshops.
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#orangebeakstudio #inkdropillustration #papercutillustration #spiderillustration #bettleillustrations
We are so excited to have the brilliant Mikey Please with us for our next Orange Beak Evening next Thursday the 21st May!
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Tickets come with access to the recording for a week after the event. Link to tickets in the bio above!
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#MikeyPlease #OrangeBeakEvening #PictureBooks #ChildrensIllustration
Our 2026 Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award is now closed!
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We're so excited to have received so many submissions this year! Thank you so much to everyone that got their sketches to us! Because of the number of entries, especially the amount that came flooding through today, it's going to take us a few days to get back to you with email acknowledgement. Thanks for your patience!
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We love how excited you all are about this award, and the collective love for drawing and sketchbooks! Shirley would be so proud and thrilled!
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#shirleyhughessketchbookaward
🌻🍋BEAK SPEAKS🍋🌻
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We have the wonderful Deirdre Sullivan, award winning writer of 'Tangleweed and Brine' from Galway, Ireland and the fabulous Jessica Love whose debut book 'Juliàn is a Mermaid' won the Klaus Flugge prize and Stonewall Book Award.
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They will be talking about their experience of collaboration. What works and what doesn't. How they came to work together and how illustrators and writers can work collaboratively to get the most out of their picture book idea.
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This is a talk perfect for writers and illustrators alike, for those hoping to work in the picture book industry and those already in it.
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There is a link in our bio to tickets. Purchasing a ticket gives you access to the recording for a week after the event. Unfortunately access to the recording of this event is not for sale after the event.
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#JessicaLove #DeirdreSullivan #OrangeBeak #BeakSpeaks #LittlePassenger
🍊CLOSING TODAY🍊
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Doors close today at 5pm UK time! Don't miss out on this brilliant opportunity to share your fabulous sketches with the world. It's free to enter and there are prizes up for grabs, including a £1000 first prize. To find out more see the link in our bio above!
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The award celebrates the wonderful work of Shirley Hughes. Her illustration continues to feel incredibly fresh and was grounded in sketching the world around her.
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We can't wait to see your work!
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#ShirleyHughes #ShirleyHughesSketchBookAward2026 #Sketchbooks #OrangeBeak
Have you checked out our Picture Book Club?👀It's soooo full of goodies, it really is a treat for anyone interested in picture books, children's illustration and children's writing.
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With briefs to get your creativity flowing, a newsletter to get you inspired, crit groups to keep you on track, it is PACKED full of advice and support. We know it can feel isolating working as an illustrator and our Picture Book Club is a wonderful community to be part of!
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If you missed our great talk with Charlotte Ager you can catch it here until our next Orange Beak evening with Mikey Please. Alongside our In The Studio With... talks. Friendly, fun and informal chats with picture book makers.
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Come and join us, with four different tiers we hope there is something that suits everyone's pocket!
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#Patreon #PictureBook Club #OrangeBeak #ChildrensIllustration
🍓🍊CLOSING TOMORROW🍊🍓
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THE SHIRLEY HUGHES SKETCHBOOK AWARD 2026
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Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity.
Tomorrow is the final day for you to get your entry in for our *free to enter* competition with a first prize of £1000!
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Share with us your sketchbook drawings celebrating the world you observe around you- the characters, emotions, laughter and joy found in the everyday and the ordinary!
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Check out our website or Instagram pages for all the information you need to take part.
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#ShirleyHughesAward2026 #OrangeBeak #ShirleyHughes #Sketchbook #Sketching
🐦Last call!! 5pm UK time🐦
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This is an absolute must see for anyone interested in how the children's book industry works and how brilliant books get put together!
* Nia Roberts of Nosy Crow books and award-winning illustrator Sara Ogilvie will be talking about their collaborative experience and the benefits of a good partnership. There will be a questions and answers session at the end and tickets come with access to the recording for a month after the event. See you there!
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#OrangeBeak #NiaRoberts #SaraOgilvie #IndustryInsights #PictureBooks
Orange Beak presents an online talk and Q&A with writer, director animator, illustrator and generally all-round brilliant Mikey Please.
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Mikey’s debut author/illustrated picture book, ‘The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods’, won the Waterstones Children's Book of the Year 2025. It's a wonderfully original book based on a story he, his wife and his son played during lockdown. It's beautiful, original and fun!
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Mikey Please is a BAFTA-winning and OSCAR-nominated writer, director, animator and illustrator. His music videos and short films have earned him over 60 international awards, including a BAFTA for his short film The Eagleman Stag. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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We look forward to hearing about Mikey’s work in film and creating beautiful picture books, his journey and process through illustration and what inspires him. Following the talk, there will be an audience Q&A opportunity.
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The event will be held online via ZOOM - the link will be sent to you directly via email on the day of the talk around 5pm UK time.
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The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available to view back for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
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See you there!
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#MikeyPlease #OrangeBeakEvening #TheCafeInTheWoods #PictureBooks #ChildrensIllustration
📗🐊THE STORY PROBLEM🐊📗
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Join us for an afternoon with the fabulous , award winning author Mariesa Dulak. Mariesa will guide you through developing page turning storylines filled with intrigue and fun. Your perfect picture book plot! Maybe you have the spark of an idea but need some structure or have the character but need some direction. This is the perfect workshop for you!
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Mariesa was born in Yorkshire of dual, Barbadian and English heritage. She completed a degree in English Literature, an MA in Children’s Literature and has worked in bookselling, publishing and as a children's librarian before putting pen to paper herself.
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Mariesa’s first book There’s a Tiger on the Train has won numerous awards including The Week- Junior Picture Book of the Year Award. Her second book The Silver Shadow was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and her third book The Ice Cream Crocodile will be published in May this year. Mariesa writes about identity and family life and lives in London.
* Tickets are sold through Eventbrite and are non-refundable. Zoom links will be emailed directly to you on the day of the event around 10am UK time.The event is LIVE - but buying a ticket will give you access to a recording which will be available to view back for one week afterwards. You will be sent a link for this the day after the event.
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#MariesaDulak #TheresATigerOnTheTrain #Picturebookwriting #ChildrensBooks #OrangeBeak #WritingWorkshop
Accidental Ink Drops and Paper Bits
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Our Orange Beak workshop this month is going to get you inspired! Explore your personal style , join us on the 13th of May for 3 hours of creativity and play!
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Tickets for the workshop come with access to the recording for a month after the event. Link to tickets in our bio above!
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#BrizidaMagro #orangebeak #Illustration #Picturebooks
