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I’m a self-taught author and illustrator, working from a home filled with books, paper, and quiet ideas.

My debut picture book, Please Cloud, Don’t Cry, began on an autumn walk in 2018, when our then six-year-old neurodivergent daughter who rarely used her own words  looked up at the sky and said something that stayed with me. That moment grew into a lyrical story about moods, weather, and the quiet magic of listening.

My creative work is inspired by the soft wildness of everyday life, a sky change, a scribbled sentence, a flash of colour in a hedgerow. I use gouache, painted paper, digital art and a little chaos to bring emotion and movement into my illustrations.

I’m currently working on multiple children’s books that combine storytelling with sensory gentleness, emotional depth, and a touch of whimsy.

If you’d like to get in touch, please use the contact page or email me directly at [email protected]

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@leabeardsleyart
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Okay, deep breath because THIS IS NOT A...

It was a beautiful, sunny September day back in 2018. We were on a walk with friends, one we’d done so many times before. Our daughter Neiva was six at the time. Back then, there wasn’t conversation only song. She sang constantly. And when she wasn’t singing, she could recite entire Charlie and Lola episodes with perfect rhythm. Nature was her safe place (still is). She was most herself outdoors barefoot in the grass, hair in the breeze, eyes always turned to the sky. That day we passed some horses, and I snapped a photo because she looked as though she was deep in conversation with them. Me and a friend stayed back with her and the horses while the others walked on ahead. And then, out of nowhere, the air shifted. A chill crept in, the sky turned dark, and the first few raindrops began to fall. Neiva stopped. She put her hands together, looked up at the heavy sky and quietly whispered four words that changed everything for me: “Please Cloud, don’t cry.” That was it, the seed of this book 🌥 For me, Please Cloud, Don’t Cry isn’t just a story about the weather. It’s about listening. It’s about how neurodivergent children often see and feel the world differently and how much beauty and wisdom there is in their way of noticing. It’s because of their quiet brilliance stories like this one can be told. This book is for her, and for all the little lanterns who show us the world anew. ✨🥹 #kidsbooks #neurodiversity #booklaunch #kidlit #autismacceptance #pleaseclouddontcry
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It was a beautiful, sunny September day back...

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🗓️ Save the Date: 7 October 2025 Please...

Final edits are done. Every line has been checked. Every rhyme walked back and forth. Every comma questioned. Every illustration carefully looked over, right down to the tiniest cloud. And now the story is ready. Truly ready. So, what’s next? There will be two editions of this book: A hardcover version, signed by the author (wow that’s me!🥹🙃) in small batches with beautiful paper and cover. And a paperback version, widely available through Amazon to make sure it’s easy to find and order. Both are printed in a cosy 8 x 10 inch size. A perfect size for a children’s picture book, big enough to feel special in little hands, but still snuggly and easy to hold. Same story. Same art. Two different ways. I’ll share more about each version soon (preorders are coming). But for now, I just wanted to say… We’re getting so close! ☁️📘✨
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Final edits are done. Every line has been...