Jaccob Turner

BA (Hons) Illustration

Many people find contemporary life stressful. We all have our own reasons to worry, alongside shared concerns. Feeling you must fight your own battles alone can lead to a sense of separation, even isolation, and in the current pandemic this has become more of a reality.

So, it can be a good idea to take a break, come together, relax, and have a good laugh. This is something I find vital in both everyday life and my illustration work. The stories and characters I make offer an opportunity to step back and enjoy the simple things in life. I want to be able to help many people in this way, so I have designed my project using visual formats and platforms which can reach a wide audience.

The current work has taken form as a children’s book about Willifer, a middle class, forgetful goldfish who wants to enjoy a lavish, upper class lifestyle. Accompanying this is a wacky comedic animation pitch about other animals in the city unintentionally thwarting Willifer’s ambitions. Books and TV are media through which many people connect and share enjoyment. I think this kind of comedy can be effective in bringing people together when things get tough.


Mae llawer o bobl yn gweld bywyd cyfoes yn straen. Mae gan bawb ei resymau dros boeni, ynghyd â phryderon cyffredin. Gall teimlo bod rhaid i chi ymladd eich brwydrau eich hun arwain at deimlad o arwahanrwydd, unigrwydd hyd yn oed, ac mae hynny wedi dod yn fwy o realiti yn y pandemig sydd ohoni.

Felly, gall fod yn syniad da i gymryd seibiant, dod ynghyd, ymlacio, a chael hwyl go iawn. Mae hyn yn hanfodol mewn bywyd bob dydd ac yn fy ngwaith darlunio. Mae fy straeon a fy nghymeriadau’n gyfle i gamu nôl a mwynhau’r pethau syml mewn bywyd. Rydw i am allu helpu cymaint o bobl yn y ffordd hon, ac felly wedi cynllunio fy mhrosiect drwy ddefnyddio fformatau a llwyfannau gweledol sy’n gallu cyrraedd cynulleidfa eang.

Mae’r gwaith cyfredol ar ffurf llyfr plant am Willifer, pysgodyn aur anghofus, dosbarth canol sydd am fwynhau bywyd moethus y dosbarth uwch. Yn cyd-fynd â hyn mae yna animeiddiad digrif a gwirion am anifeiliaid eraill yn y ddinas sy’n anfwriadol yn rhwystro uchelgais Willifer. Mae llyfrau a theledu yn gyfryngau y mae llawer o bobl yn cysylltu â nhw ac yn rhannu eu mwynhad. Rwy’n meddwl bod y math hwn o gomedi’n gallu bod yn effeithiol i ddod â phobl at ei gilydd pan fo pethau’n anodd.

Other Exhibitors:

Imogen Miles

Imogen Miles

My current project looks into the story of St Dwynwen, a Welsh princess who became a saint- the welsh patron St of Lovers. She is celebrated throughout wales on the 25th of January. I was interested in this story after hearing about St Dwynwens day and doing some...

Katie Andrews

Katie Andrews

Reconnecting and rebuilding our relationship with the natural world is as vital as ever. My illustration practice focuses on creating educational and decorative patterned homeware and giftware products which will inspire people to become more in sync and appreciative...

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

Monika Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska

My project is a response to a brief inspired by the Apila’s First Printing Award 2022. The aim was to create a fully illustrated children’s book based on a story of my choice – ‘The Frog Princess’ by A. J. Gliński. I wanted to combine the Polish culture with my...

Ellen Richards

Ellen Richards

As ân artist, I am particularly interested in creating work which explores subjects which are tailored to a certain demographic. The topics are relevant and meaningful to a specific individual, whether it be something they have experienced in their past or are...

Polly Allburn

Polly Allburn

My illustration work has culminated in an experimental assortment of objects that communicate the interconnected relationship between parent and child. Breaking down the power dynamic and allowing for a collaborative experience where parents can empathise with their...

Thalia Dougourou

Thalia Dougourou

Using both visual and lexical storytelling, I explore African history and culture while investigating its absence in the learning of young black students. Growing up in the UK, I became aware that the black history being taught in schools did not go beyond slavery,...