Illustration by Sarah J. Coleman

Work for advertising, books, news, film, animation, walls and the screen! www.inkymole.com

[inkymole]

New book project! 🎃 Finn won’t admit it, but he can see A GHOST in his new house. She’s angry, she’s silent, she scares him…but she really needs him and his friends’ help.

Out in January 2027, ‘Polterghost’ is one of the best middle grade books I’ve ever read; laugh-out-loud funny, creepy, atmospheric, and terribly poignant at times. I loved it.

It’s by @kerryhansenauthor and it’s published by @charlesbridgepublishing and this was an absolute gem of a project.

You can see here some of the sketches and versions I made on the way to the final cover (which opens out into a poster, btw!) 👻🪦

[inkymole]

Fairies exist! Otherwise, how could there be this book about them… Huh?

Sarah Jane Coleman AKA Inky Mole has illustrated 80 fairies, monsters and other fae creatures for Dr Elizabeth Dearnley's upcoming book The

Creative Boom ran a great little article on my new book with Dr. Elizabeth Dearnley - including some of the creatures not yet seen. "Her portfolio is full of ghosts and beasties, spiderwebs and shadows, with a vintage, gothic vibe facilitated by her use of natural media". SO. VERY. COOL to read that. Have a look!

[inkymole]

Researching the Tudors and reached for my @ladybirdbooks Henry to kick it off. All my childhood disapproval is right there in the green crayon across his face (I watched 1536 recently too, hoooo boy 👸🏻🚫👸🏻🪓👸🏻💀👸🏻🚫👸🏻🪓👸🏻🛟).

These energetic illustrations by Frank Humphris are burned into my brain, and are the only version of Henry I ever visualise - fat, furious, laughing, puffing out his ironically horrified face at seeing ‘greedy’ Anne of Cleves who he believes has catfished him with a Holbein. The cheek (literally) of the man.

But then there’s the printing (hi Caxton), the English translations of the bibles, that lettering, the artist who was basically a travelling press photographer. I see the roots of a lot of my politics and career choices in this little, much-thumbed book! 🐞

[inkymole]

New haul from @weird_walk which I have to ration every single time otherwise I gulp the whole lot down in a gluttonous, medievel frenzy. One story, one article at a time. Always beautifully put together, both editorially and in print terms. They feed my head.

[inkymole]

I've just got the delivery of the new paperback edition of my book with Josh Allen 'Once They See You', just published, and there are 20 signed-and-doodled copies available in the shop if anyone would like one. Paperbacks are always nicer to read in bed! Specially when they fall on your face ☠️ You can get one here.

[inkymole]

Just made a tiny update to my website. Thought it was time I paid homage to my Grandma and Grandpa, who lived next door, and their phone we used for years as teenagers to ring our mates because we didn't have one in our own house. We did get one in the end, but when I moved into my grandparents' house post-college, thereafter moving into my own place, I took their number (and their phone) with me. 💚 https://www.inkymole.com/contact

[inkymole]

My new book project with Dr. Elizabeth Dearnley, queen of fairy tales, horror and folklore, is out in October - THE month to be learning about monsters and mythical creatures. It contains almost 90 illustrations drawn in pen and ink, but check out the cover in the meantime!

I actually can't wait to start sharing all the creatures I drew, but that will have to wait till closer to...Halloween...🎃 here's just a couple for now, and you can pre-order it here in the meantime.

[inkymole]

Just out in the bookshops is this new book by Greg Wise (husband of actress Emma Thompson, for those who like a little background info!) with cover work by me. That's Greg's charming ink drawing of a tree, and the cover had to work around that. A subject that needed a very sensitive, human hand, like a diary entry or a note to a friend.

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/talking-about-grief-greg-wise/7844224

[inkymole]

New album cover just dropped 💀

[inkymole]

Author Josh Allen and I were the subject of Holiday House Publishing's Podcast, “The Guest Book”, talking about our love of horror and what makes us tick (…tock…tick, like a creepy grandfather clock.) You can listen to it in the link in my profile and I’ve added it to my website, too. During the recording, genuinely odd things were kicking off in my studio - no; I mean, FOR REAL.

Listen to find out what that was! (and no, I never did figure it out).

[inkymole]

Does anyone still use business cards? I do, I’m never without them 🙅🏻‍♀️Just received my new ones, bit flash; ink-soaked with holo foil ink blot and felt-tip pen on the back and a nod to classic old Mac fontage. These are also the backing cards for all my pins and jewellery. Delish. Print is dead; long live print! ✊🏻

[inkymole]

The unique pain of coming across a photo of a beloved item of clothing you no longer have. My godfathers I loved these shoes. 😩 Look at 'em. LOOOOK AAAAAT THEMMMMMMMM

[inkymole]

This is 'Little Rock', the new film written and directed by Nick Tree for @youngerpeoplewithdementia. I made photographic props for the film, de-ageing actor Neil Bell by 20+ years and adding babies, lighting, pianos, grading and other stuff - intense Photoshop work! My creative contribution was small, but this is an organisation doing vital work and I was thrilled to be involved. I'll be honest - I haven't been able to watch this yet without crying. Consider yourselves warned! 🥹

[inkymole]

Shop | Inkymole

Illustration, prints, hand-lettering, stationery and wearables. Unique and useful things of a one-off nature, together with hand-printed or

My brain clanged two things together to make a new word in the small hours this morning: ARTEMISM. I’ve sorely neglected my lovely shop because I’ve been so busy with client work, and fretting about it. Bad Sarah. But I’ve been immeasurably cheered and distracted by the moon mission. Hooray - I’m feeling thoroughly ARTEMISTIC!🌙💫 So I've done a discount code of 15% off anything you like; use ARTEMISTIC2 at checkout because why not! (lot of moons and skies in there). inkymole.shop

[inkymole]

“We’re going up, up, up, it’s our moment; you know together we’re glowing, gonna be gonna be golden.” 💫💛

[inkymole]

I was sad to see that long-standing British pottery makers @denbypottery are closing for good.

Denby were the first company to see the power and potential of my hand-lettering for big ad campaigns, and put it centre-stage with its products and some great copywriting.

I did this campaign MANY years ago with agency @isobelcreative and it might be ancient, but it swung wide a lot of doors for me when I had no agent and before social networks turned into 'social media'. I'll be forever grateful for their creative boldness!

[inkymole]

Escape to a made-up world! I’ve illustrated the fictional Dannemore for legend Cassandra Clare’s new novel ‘The Ragpicker King’, follow-up to ‘Sword Catcher’ ⚔️

If you know Cassie’s books you’ll know these are places that are intense and rich in detail, beloved by her readers. To interpret her imaginary world on paper was quite the responsibility - but ace. And to do it twice has been quite fabulous 💅🏻

Drawn in @procreate for @delreybooks