I am so excited to share that the second book in the Highland Cowgirl series is coming soon! 

I met author, Louisa MacDougall , via a Searchlight Book Awards competition in 2022. She had written a book, and was looking for an illustrator to be able to enter the competition. I actually saw her post on Twitter, and replied. She sent me a selection of lovely picture book stories that she had written, and very kindly said I could choose which one I liked the best. 

It was a very hard choice, as they were all great stories and all featured animals that I loved to draw, but The Highland Cowgirl really stood out, so that’s the one we decided on.

Unfortunately we did not win the competition, but a little publisher in Wigtown, Scotland called Foggie Toddle Books also loved the story, and offered us a publishing deal. 

Louisa and I were very excited that our book would be out in the world, and it was a joy to work with Jayne from Foggie Toddle. 

The Highland Cowgirl was published in 2024, and has become one of Foggie Toddle’s best sellers. 

This year, Louisa wrote a second story, and I have been working on the illustrations for the last few months. It is the first time I have illustrated a second book in a series, and it has been a lot of fun to draw Hanna again, as well as her friends , family, and of course Calamity Jane the highland calf (you’ll have to read the first book to find out how she got that name!) Drawing them again is a bit like visiting old friends. I feel like I’ve got to know them all a bit better. 

The new book is called ‘The Highland Cowgirl- Showtime’ and, as the title suggests, is all about a highland show. Hanna takes part, and a lot of fun and dancing ensues. 

Here is the cover art.

The final illustrations have now been sent, and the book will be published later in the summer, I can’t wait!