Driven to Draw: The Imaginative World of Tim Stead
We first caught up with illustrator-turned-lorry driver, Tim Stead, three years ago. Now, with the help of his little assistant, he is a celebrated children’s author, with eight books to his name.
Silloth-based Tim Stead spends a lot of time behind the wheel of his Eddie Stobart freight lorry, but when not in his cab it is his drive to create which wins him the plaudits, hearts and minds of children and adults alike, in his role as an illustrator and author.
Fans of the Stobart brand will be familiar with Tim’s regular contributions to the ‘Steady Eddie’ magazine, although a capacity for inventive storytelling is fast helping to expose his art to a much wider local and national audience outside of the trucking world.
Having originally studied Graphic Design at Cumbria College of Art & Design (now part of the University of Cumbria), the Cumbrian cartoonist has gone on to have his work featured in several publications, including a number of children’s books which he has written outright. Previous titles include; ‘Fat Bat and the Strange Woolly Hat’, ‘Ted Needs Some Space’ and ‘So, You Ran in the Wash’.
Tim’s new book, ‘Hanging with the Kool Squids’ which comes out in the new year, features best friends, Olly the Octopus and Rab the Crab, who one day run into some very, very cool squids. The story follows Olly as is accepted into the ‘Kool Squids’ gang, the fun he has, the trouble he gets into and how he prevails in not being too influenced by the ‘Kool Squids’. Of course, there’s a moral of every story. In this case, it is about peer pressure, an idea which came about when Tim’s son Thomas – who the books were originally created for – was experiencing bullying at school.
Now 6, Thomas is very much a part of the process, Tim explained: “It’s getting to the point now where it’s a collaboration of me and him working on the books. I do the illustrations and Thomas does the traces which go onto the watercolour paper, he’s getting really good at it. He’s the main title maker, his ideas are brilliant.”
But despite their stories being based in technicolour universes of the sort only a truly creative mind could dream up, the subject matter of some of Tim’s collaborative work is often inspired by events closer to home.
Earlier in the year, Tim donated his talents to a book entitled ‘Do I Need Wellies Today?’, which was created in conjunction with pupils at Blennerhasset Primary school. The book was devised to raise funds for an extension after the school flooded in 2015. Tim provided illustration classes for pupils who used their collective imagination to write and illustrate the story, helping them to create something meaningful and positive out of a destructive situation.
He will donate £1 from each sale of his new book, to CFM’s ‘Cash for Kids’. A rather appropriate cause, given that the charitable campaign seeks to respond to the needs of disadvantaged children in the local community, helping disabled and neglected young people to enjoy life and realise their true potential.
Tim’s books have also caught the attention of some notable TV stars, including the actress Francine Lewis, who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent. After meeting through Twitter, the pair are collaborating on a book and audiobook to encourage kids to get offline and go outside. And rumour has it, he is also in talks with Katie Price, who wants to work with him in regards to her son, Harvey.
Tim said: “I’ve always been good at drawing but it all just took off. The whole idea started off as a project when Thomas was born, I thought maybe I could produce a book to read to him, how good would that be?”
Eight books later and people are still falling in love with Tim’s stories. He added:“It’s getting better all the time and obviously, with celebrities wanting to work with us, it proves that I’m going in the right direction.”
Meanwhile Thomas continues to take it all in his stride, Tim laughed: “They’re never too impressed are they? He just wants to know when we’re next going to be on TV.”
See more of Tim’s work at www.steadillustration.com
Share It:
