An illustrator has used the experience of losing her mum to help her to connect with a character in her drawings for a new children's book written.

Georgina Reynolds, from Horsford, began drawing aged three but was able to really connect with the character in Fishing For Rainbows, written by Oliver Sykes, as both the character and Georgina lost their mums at a young age.  

The 22-year-old said: “Like Kezia, my mother also passed away and so I really resonated with Kezia’s loneliness and grief. 

Norwich Evening News: Georgina Reynolds took around six months to create 40 images which appear in the book Georgina Reynolds took around six months to create 40 images which appear in the book (Image: Georgina Reynolds)

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“Grief, and the constant wishing for someone you loved to be around, is something that is so difficult to deal with at any age, and so being able to spend hours with Kezia made me feel as if I was spending it with someone who also understood that.” 

Georgina - who spent six months creating 40 images that appear in the book, plus a further 20 that didn’t make it - fondly remembers growing up in an artistic household.

Norwich Evening News: Georgina says her work is influenced by the Impressionist art movement Georgina says her work is influenced by the Impressionist art movement (Image: Georgina Reynolds)

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The former Manchester School of Art student added: “As I undertook this project straight after finishing university, I still felt very uncertain of who I was creatively, so throughout this process I have been able to develop a better sense of my creative self." 

Fishing For Rainbows features a young heroine called Kezia, who is not afraid to stand up for what she wants.  

While her brothers regularly go out to fish with their dad, 12-year-old Kezia stays at home, cooking and cleaning, until one day she is called upon to show what she is truly made of. 

Norwich Evening News: Her colourful illustrations, which appear on every page of the book, are created using a mix of gouache paint, coloured pencils and watercolour marker pens Her colourful illustrations, which appear on every page of the book, are created using a mix of gouache paint, coloured pencils and watercolour marker pens (Image: Georgina Reynolds)

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Oliver, the book's author, said: "Georgina has a real knack for pinpointing the perfect moments to illustrate.

"I couldn’t be happier with how the book has turned out.”

Now Georgina is turning her attention to writing her own stories to accompany her illustrations.

Norwich Evening News: The book is available via Oliver Sykes website The book is available via Oliver Sykes website (Image: Georgina Reynolds)