The Stories and Illustration

Every story is personal, and every author has a unique vision they want to share with the world.

Because of this, each book must be discussed, designed, and priced individually, based on your specific needs and ideas.

Every project is a true collaboration from the very beginning—deciding how many illustrations you need, whether they are spot images, half-page, full-page, or double-page spreads, and choosing the style, level of detail, and overall scope of the artwork.
A personal story deserves personal treatment, which is why every project is priced uniquely and fairly.

“You don’t even have to look elsewhere for formatting; I’ll prepare the book right through to print-ready, and it’s all covered in the price.”

My goal is to help bring your vision to life.

'Pay As You Go'

I understand that saving up to have a book illustrated can be difficult, so I want to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.

We can work together at whatever pace suits you—paying for illustrations one at a time as your budget allows, or choosing monthly instalments (the method most authors prefer).

It’s your story. Just tell me what you need to bring your book to completion, and we can make it happen.

https://davemccleery.com/

Carina Dunne, the author of Shadow, promoted her book on 'Buy The Book'
https://www.buythebook.ie/product/shadow/
I’m delighted to share some of the wonderful reviews received so far:

★★★★★

Maria king – November 15, 2024

I bought this book for my 9 year old grand daughter.
I was drawn to it by the cover. The quality is beautiful and when I opened it the inside was of an older days style which I loved.The story is fun and imaginative and the illustrations are superb. I think we will see more books in the future from this talented author.

★★★★★

Breda Healy – December 9, 2024

I bought this book recently for my grandchildren. My two 7 Yr olds really enjoyed it.
I thought the story was a very clever way to get the message across to young children that it’s OK to be different. The beautiful illustrations really brought the story to life.
Well done Carina.

★★★★★

Michelle Mc Crossan – March 16, 2025

My 7 year old son James Caelan just loved this book. It was so unique and such a beautiful read. He really learned to understand that be different is good. We have read it now at least 10 times and it is a go to before bed every night. He always has peaceful nights sleep after reading this magical book with a very special story ✨️

★★★★★

Kristina – April 3, 2025

What a fantastic book! My youngest absolutely loves the illustrations and often wishes she could have Shadow as a friend. The pictures really capture the imagination and bring the story to life. My oldest, who is 11, was able to relate to the book in a special way. She enjoyed seeing how the characters came together and had fun, which added a heartwarming touch to the story. It’s a great read for early readers too, with engaging content that’s perfect for them to follow along. Highly recommended for families with kids of all ages!

★★★★★

Alan Delaney – May 1, 2025

Excellent book by an excellent friend bought my sister and my niece this book. The pictures and the story telling fantastic for little readers money well spent. My wife has also bought one for herself

★★★★★

Natalie Fitzgerald-Roberts – May 8, 2025

What an adorable book! The gorgeous illustration on the front and back cover invites the reader, like it’s an old treasure box waiting to be opened. You just know there’s something wonderful within. As I began to read Shadow I felt immediately connected and part of. There’s a warmth Shadow offers,an understanding of being understood. Every child every school and every library needs Shadow so that every child can shine their own uniqueness.The gorgeous pictures bringing that uniqueness to life ♡

★★★★★

Kevin Clarke – December 1, 2025

What a lovely heart warming story, and beautifully illustrated. It is so refreshing to see a storyline which explains to children in an easily understandable way that it is quite ok to feel different to others, and life can be good. It makes a nice change from the terrible pressure on kids these days to follow trends, which can leave a lot of children confused and undermined in their sense of their own value. Well done to the author!

Presented below is a gallery with further examples of my cover design work

As a child growing up on a farm in Surrey, Linda Potter was inspired by her storytelling father to write 20 short stories about Orange and Apple.
For years, she kept them tucked away, unsure they were worthy of publication. A chance meeting with her daughter Lisa at a local garden centre brought us together, and now, in her 70s, Linda has finally realised her long-held dream.

Rob Daniel Ten TALL Tales Empty cover 170 x 260 tilted.jpg

Illustrations & Ideas

Below is a selection of story illustrations from the publications above.

If you spot a style you’d like to use for your own story—or would prefer to combine elements from multiple styles to create a unique publication—simply click here to get in touch.