Leonie and the Lion

 by Angus Macaulay

 Published in 1988 by Oxford University Press (UK)

This was my first picture book.

The sepia tinge to all the illustrations happened by complete accident: I had mixed a bit of sepia calligraphy ink with my black india ink to try and get a softer look to the line work. Having drawn the first illustration, on watercolour paper, I sloshed a wash of clean water over the whole thing prior to adding some water colour. To my horror, the colour in the ink started to leech out. The calligraphy ink wasn't waterproof. Who knew? After a bit of carpet chewing, I sort of got used to it. I added a bit of colour on top of the accidental sepia wash, and went with it. The art of living dangerously.