HEREFORD Cathedral School pupils have their sights set on World Book Day 2018 as they set to work this week on their first picture books, which will be printed in time for the big day on March 1st, 2018.

Pupils at the school’s weekly lunchtime Book Club learned the art of illustrating from professional Herefordshire artist and author, Iain Welch, whose book Steve’s A-Z of Sport was published in 2017.

Iain Welch gives workshop for Years 7-8 Book Club members who will work with Art Club to illustrate, write and design books for kids.

Iain told Hereford Cathedral School students that he was first inspired to draw when he saw fantastic illustrations in books like Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear and Matilda.

“Quentin Blake is the reason I now draw and doodle for six to seven hours every day,” he said. 

Pupils discussed their favourite characters from books with Iain before he set them to work practising his designs, after which they sketched and coloured their own characters for their new books. They came up with characters including a penguin that fenced, a diving hedgehog and a kayaking rabbit.

After his lunchtime workshop, Iain described Hereford Cathedral School Book Club pupils as “marvellous, clever children who were very quick to learn.”

Book Club tutor, Rachel Ayers-Nelson, who regularly welcomes authors to the school, said: “We all found Iain’s workshop so much fun and we can not wait to see the finished results!”