Behind the scenes: Edward Bawden & Circus of Illustration

Find out more about the artists and have a look behind the scenes at our latest exhibition of illustrations created in response to the Edward Bawden Archive. The exhibition will run 17th February to April 2025 at The Higgins Bedford.

Kristina Bullen

Kristina is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Bedford with a love of storytelling and character. Since graduating with a degree in illustration in 2010, Kristina has worked across the arts, be that volunteering locally with Bedford Creative Arts and the Circus of Illustration, or commercially in character design, storyboarding, advertising and publishing. ​

Marisa Straccia

Marisa is an illustrator for Doodle Press Ltd, an award winning design studio based in Lancashire. She works from home in Bedford. Marisa creates nature and folk inspired reduction linocut prints. Find her work in books, guides and maps at Foster Hill Road cemetery.

Katie Allen

Katie is an illustrator based in Bedford. After graduating with a degree in illustration she has worked in arts education since 2011 as a workshop provider. Katie’s experience in printmaking informs her digital artwork, using texture and a limited colour palette. ​

Kashta Dale

Kashta is an illustrator and teacher based in Bedfordshire. She enjoys working in a range of mediums particularly printmaking and digital art; focusing on bold lines and colours as seen in her repeated patterns and portraits. Sarah take inspiration from a wide variety of places the events in the news, history, popular culture and often draws people and items close to her. 

Teresa de Silva

Teresa is a fashion and textile designer who trained at St Martin’s School of Art.
​Her early work referenced historical textiles, traditionally hand painted in gouache, but she now designs digital prints in a retro-futuristic style for Fervour, a sportswear brand she created with her husband, Keith Wheeler.

Patrycja Flontowicz

Patrycja is a Bedfordshire based artist. She specialises in pencil portraits and printmaking. Her favourite method of print being lino cut, since first experimenting with print in 2016. She is greatly inspired by feminism, the taboo and gothic architecture. Previously having studied Fine Art at Bedford college, she has collaborated with  businesses and creatives alike in the recent years.


Shannon Hall

I'm Shannon, an artist based in Bedford who loves bringing stories to life through art. I have a background in animation and am inspired by nature and folklore, and exploring the hidden worlds of day-to-day life.

Lesley Jones

Lesley moved from Yorkshire to complete a BA in Illustration and Graphic Design years ago, and currently works as a Key Account Manager for a supplier to the heritage and arts industry. She draws, paints and prints in her spare time - at Castle Life Drawing group, which she run with friends, and with Bedford Urban Sketchers.

Elly Loughlin

Elly is an illustrator based in Bedford. Since graduating with a degree in Fine Art & Illustration from Coventry University, Elly has been creating artwork on a freelance basis. Working with brushpen and ink for a bold outline and fineliner pens for detail, Elly’s artwork shows many textures despite being predominantly monotone.

Lydia Marotta

Lydia is 19 and have been passionate about art for as long as she can remember. She is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a tattoo artist. She has lived in Bedford all her life and enjoys painting and drawing the scenery and nature here.

Megan Nightingale

Megan is currently in her first year of University studying Illustration. Within art she loves exploring colour and layering. Her favourite techniques to work in are water colour, digital work such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and printmaking.

Averil Stratford

Averil is a maker and illustrator from Bedford, currently studying at Kingston University, and briefly living in Hamburg, Germany. She loves using different processes, such as papier mâché, textiles, and paper cutting to bring characters and narratives to life.

The Higgins Bedford

Castle Lane, Bedford, MK40 3XD.
​Free Entry