The Snail Artist - A Heartwarming Tale About Creativity, Courage and the Magic of Imagination
Glenmillan Press (Verlag)
978-1-0681581-0-0 (ISBN)
- Titel nicht im Sortiment
- Artikel merken
The Snail Artist is a beautifully heartwarming and
imaginative children’s picture book by Dawn Crothers, a story that celebrates
creativity, courage, and the joy of discovering who you truly are.
At the peaceful Snail Sanctuary, all the snails are happy
living their quiet, contented lives. All except for one little snail, who
dreams of something more. While the others are satisfied with their leafy
surroundings, this curious snail longs to see what lies beyond the sanctuary
walls. He dreams of a grand adventure, one that will take him out into the big,
wide world.
With determination in his heart (and a bit of clever
thinking), the little snail rolls his way under the HUMONGOUS gate. And just
like that, his adventure begins.
Drawn by laughter and light, the snail discovers a nearby
building occupied by an artist and their studio, filled with colours,
paintings, and happy people. Peeking through a window, he’s fascinated by what
he sees, a whole world of art that makes his heart race with excitement. When a
kind boy notices him and invites him to join the painting fun, the snail
hesitates at first. After all, how can a snail paint without hands? But with a
bit of encouragement and imagination, he soon finds his own special way, painting
with his antennae!
What follows is a joyful explosion of creativity. The snail
experiments with every colour of the rainbow — reds, blues, greens, yellows,
and more, creating wild swirls, wriggly lines, and dazzling shapes. He learns
about abstract art, landscapes, and self-portraits, painting everything that
inspires him: his garden, his family, even his tiny pet ant, Agnes. Through
trial and play, he discovers his very own artistic style and a new passion that
fills his world with colour.
As the seasons change, so does the snail’s imagination. In
the brightness of spring, he paints blooming flowers and trees; at night, he
captures the glow of the moon and the quiet life that stirs after dark. Every
brushstroke reveals a new way of seeing the world.
Then comes his boldest idea yet: to share his art with the
world beyond the sanctuary! With the help of his human friend, the snail
travels to the bustling big city. There, in a noisy art gallery full of people,
he meets Mr. Clover, an art dealer who can hardly believe his eyes. “A snail
artist?” he exclaims, but once he sees the paintings, he knows they’re
something truly special.
And so, the little snail earns his new name: The Snail
Artist. His work amazes everyone who sees it, spreading joy and wonder far
and wide. But even as fame finds him, the snail never forgets where he came
from. When he finally returns home to the Snail Sanctuary, he’s welcomed back
with love, laughter, and a daffodil tea party in his honour.
Back among his friends and family and his loyal pet ant,
Agnes, the Snail Artist feels happy and proud. His journey has taught him that
even the smallest creature can have the biggest dreams.
Dawn Crothers’ The Snail Artist is a delightful
celebration of imagination, perseverance, and the magic of art. With its gentle
humour, vibrant hand painted illustrations, and uplifting message, it
encourages children to follow their curiosity, embrace their creativity, and
believe that no dream is ever too big, no matter how small you are.
Perfect for readers aged 3–8, this charming tale reminds us
of all that adventure and inspiration can be found wherever we dare to look, even
in the slow and steady heart of a snail.
Northern Irish based artist and author Dawn Crothers has been painting her naive style artwork in oils for almost two decades now. As well as being a professional artist selling her paintings worldwide, Dawn inspires young art students by teaching them art at her studio based in Belfast, which is an historic stable building on the Lismachan Estate, in the Glenmachan area. Her family home is within walking distance of her studio, where she lives with her husband and two sons. She also has two beloved pets, a dog called Bodie, and a cat called Coco. Children have always been Dawns biggest fans; there’s a certain freedom and raw creativity that connects with them. Over the years she has passed on her passion for art to others by visiting schools vacillating workshops. The picture book “The Snail Artist”, which she has written and illustrated portrays her passion to inspire children to become more interested in art. The book brings together her visually exciting paintings and her new writing voice. Which she says has always been there, her ability to tell a story in paint has now manifest itself into words. All Dawns paintings reflect her personality and approachable attributes. She wants the viewer to relish in the many humorous characters and scenes she brings to life and hopes the viewer sees the emotion and energy she portrays in her artwork and writing. One question that always pops up for her is why snails? this mythical creature that features in so many of her paintings and is the main character in her latest book. Dawn says I would like to think it’s because I notice the beauty in often overlooked in things such as a small garden snail, but I also think there must be a deeper meaning. Looking back at her time studying Art at University of Ulster the shell spiral shape appears everywhere in her sketchbooks, as long as I remember I have been drawing circles, said Dawn. Dawn was born in city of Belfast and grew up in a place called the Shore Road, a major thoroughfare with a history tied to land reclamation, as it was once adjacent to the sea. As a little girl, she thought of a sea underneath the streets where she lived in fascinated her, she seen evidence of that underworld every day, she saw many seashells and spiral shaped fossils in the ground where she played as a child. She can’t say for certain where the snail paintings came from however, she can say that they are not intentional, all her artworks are created and driven from pictures in her mind, pure imagination. Some images are real, and some are subconscious but all of them are authentic. Dawn is a member of the Ulster Society of Women Artists and was awarded the President’s Award in 2023. She has exhibited in many art galleries across the United Kingdom and Ireland; in 2012 she was asked to take part in a group exhibition in New York. The Royal Victoria Hospital for sick children opened their new Hematology Ward in 2016, Dawn donated a large collection of her colorful oil paintings to brighten up their new facility. When the newly built Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, County Down opened its Cancer therapeutic short break center for families affected by cancer in August 2019 Dawn donated several bespoke paintings to compliment this 5-star retreat. During COVID Dawn provided a service to the NHS, helping staff and their families relieve some pressure by doing art demonstrations online. Her presence online grew fast, and she took part in “The Culture Cafe” teaching an art class for the BBC. The numbers grew and we had up 1500 children with their families log on to watch Dawn take her online zoom classes during lock-down. Dawn was commissioned by the Belfast City Council to paint a uniquely decorated elephant sculpture, the project was called “Elmer's Big Belfast “a public art trail that took place in the summer of 2022, in collaboration with “Wild in Art “and the Northern Ireland children’s Hospice to celebrate their 20th year anniversary and to raise vital funds. Dawns elephant sculpture called “A Day at the Zoo” still sits in public view at Belfast Zoo; her elephant was inspired by fond memories of visiting there as a child. An animal lover herself she’s known for her paintings inspired by the zoo, the animals and the zoo's historical features such as” Flora Hall” and of course the picturesque views of Cave Hill overlooking Belfast. In 2023 Dawn held a solo exhibition showing her affection for dogs, she worked alongside” The Barn Animal Rescue” in Newtownards County Down. Some of Dawns artwork features people and places often with a feeling of nostalgic like “Barry's” an amusement park in Portrush on the North Coast and the beautiful beaches of Helen Bay, County Down. It’s really in these most recent works that she began to see the connection between her paintings and storytelling. She started to write short stories and one thing led to a another, it seemed like a natural fit for me, said Dawn as most of my work was based on make believe. Dawns many years of working with children has given her great insight into what like, what they find funny and amusing, how they like to draw and paint and the holistic benefits of art that’s so good for children’s well-being. Throughout her career she has always felt like the more creative energy she gives out, the more she receives. And so, “The Snail Artist” book was created, over a couple over years of creation and a year of production. The book will be released on November 2025, with so many art exhibitions and book signings planned for the year ahead!! Exhibitions 2025 The Snail Artist - Exhibition and Book Launch, Glenmillan Press Ltd, Belfast 2024 Ulster Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Belfast 2024 Ulster Society of Women Artists Spring Exhibition, Antrim 2023 Solo Dog Exhibition, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2023 Ulster Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Belfast (WINNER of President's Award) 2022 Solo Exhibition, New Works, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2021 Solo Exhibition, Staycation, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2020 Solo Exhibition, Christmas, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2019 Solo Exhibition, Clowns of the Sea, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2018 Solo Christmas Exhibition, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2017 Solo Exhibition, Cameron Landscapes, Belfast 2016 Birthstone Solo Exhibition, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2015 Opening Group Show, Art Care, Belfast 2015 Group Christmas Show, The Art Agency, Surrey 2015 Group Christmas Show, The Gallery Kinsale, Ireland 2015 Solo Exhibition, Christmas, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2015 Group Show Lavelle Art Gallery, Clifden, Ireland 2014 Solo Exhibition, Arts for All Gallery, Belfast 2014 Edinburgh Art Fair 2014 Liverpool Contemporary Art Fair 2013 Group Christmas Exhibition, Whalley Fine Art, Belfast 2013 The Mulberry Tree Gallery, Dorset 2013 The Inchmore Gallery, Inverness, Scotland 2012 Solo Exhibition, McAllister Fine Art, Surrey 2012 The Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York 2010 Group Exhibition The Millbank Gallery, Templepatrick 2010 Group Exhibition Killarney Art Gallery, Ireland 2010 Group Exhibition the Whalley Gallery, Holywood 2010 Irish Interiors Ulster Tatler, Exhibition, Belfast 2009 Group Exhibition, Whalley Gallery, Holywood 2008 Group Exhibition, Grand Opening of Whalley Gallery, Holywood 2007 Group Exhibition, The Yard Gallery, Holywood Collections/ Corporate A & L Goodbody, Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, Haematology Ward, Belfast Daisy Lodge, Cancer Fund for Children, Newcastle, County Down Tiny Life, Belfast Cancer Research, UK Dame Mary Peters LG, CH, DBE, DStJ Wee Care, Day Nurseries, Belfast Sir Hugh Orde Dillon Bass Ltd Mercer Dental, Bangor, County Down Hamilton Road Surgery, Bangor, County Down Coast Restaurant, Holywood Hope House, Whitehead, Northern Ireland McHughs Bar, Belfast Cosmetech, Kings Road, London The Neptune Group, London
| Erscheinungsdatum | 21.10.2025 |
|---|---|
| Illustrationen | Dawn Crothers |
| Mitarbeit |
General-Herausgeber: Stephen Whalley |
| Zusatzinfo | 35 Colour illustrations |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 260 x 260 mm |
| Gewicht | 280 g |
| Themenwelt | Kinder- / Jugendbuch ► Bilderbücher |
| ISBN-10 | 1-0681581-0-7 / 1068158107 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-0681581-0-0 / 9781068158100 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
aus dem Bereich
