Marghanita

Me….

Marghanita

I’m a mother first, then comes my work as an Illustrator, designer, children’s author, artist and I’m most definitely a dreamer too. And of course not forgetting, a wife, to my very, very patient husband.

I am passionate about nature and wildlife and actively working to save the endangered forests in my own small way. My love for the outdoors, along with my 3 children and adoring husband has inspired us to create…

The Little Humbugs, the protectors of Nature.

My husband built the website and I drew all the book characters and illustrations and our kids got involved as the characters, storytellers and our eldest has been working on producing short films for the book characters. All in all, a real family affair.

www.littlehumbugs.com

Everywhere I look I am disturbed by the destruction and waste of modern society and want to help save what is left of the forests for our children and their children. No, I’m not going to start preaching, there are more knowledgeable people out there who could do it so much better.

One quote which did have a huge impact on me was the fact that 6 million trees are cut down every year just so that we can have paper handkerchiefs.

The day I read that, I ordered cloth organic handkerchiefs for my family and I have to say they are so much softer than the paper ones. I would recommended them to everyone, think how many trees your saving.

Me and Trees

Trees really are my passion. I love looking at them, touching them, even climbing them. I love to draw trees and collect their leaves when they fall. There are so many different types of trees I can’t say I have a favourite. As a child I would spend endless hours up the Silver Birch and the Horse Chestnut that were at the bottom of our garden, dreaming and imagining. My fondest memories as a child are in the garden or walking through forests with my 3 brothers and mum and dad.

I love to hear the birds sing, watch squirrels scurrying up the incredibly tall majestic trees and watching my children run in and out of wooded grounds, looking for the hidden treasures the forests have to offer.

Becoming A Designer

I trained as Graphic Designer in the exciting capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh. The cities culture was a luring attraction for a girl who had been brought up in the countryside. With art galleries, Cafes, Jazz clubs and a singer/songwriter that swept me off my feet, my 8 years in Edinburgh were fabulous. We lived in a wonderful part of Edinburgh, Stockbridge. It was an arty part of city with small boutique shops, great local bars and within easy walking distance of my work, a small design studio. Situated opposite the magnificent Edinburgh Castle and only a few minutes walk from the wonderful Botanic Gardens, we frequented the gardens almost on a daily basis when our first child was born.

When we decided to extend our family we returned to the countryside and moved up to the wilds of Perthshire.

It was returning to the wilderness of the Highlands that inspired me to start writing and illustrating my first picture book series- Toffee the Highland Cow.

My husband and I ran our design company from home so that we were both around for the children. Our children are such a huge part of our lives and have always involved them in our work from very early on.

It was the support and encouragement from my husband and family that made my journey as a children’s author and illustrator possible.

“Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher.” William Wordsworth

What do I love:

My Family and friends

Trees

Butterflies

Dragonflies

Tree Spirits

Art

Nature

The Outdoors

Wildlife

Children’s drawings

Music

Good Design

Cycling, mainly mountain biking.

Yoga

Walking

Art Galleries and Museums

Castles, especially Scottish ones!

Chocolate and more chocolate! “There’s nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate.” Lind Grayson

The list was in no particular order!

Press Articles

Edinburgh Evening News

The Scotsman Newspaper

Favourite artists: My Top 5

Gauguin - For his Tahitian women and exquisite use of colour

Miro - from a very early age I was impressed by Miro’s very graphic style.

Cecil Barker – for her beautiful floral fairies and Botanical illustrations and for her total belief in the existence of fairies.

Henry Moore’s Sculptures – You just want to climb on them and touch them. I have very fond memories of walking through the grounds of the Modern Art Gallery, Edinburgh with my mother.

Jean Carrie – A true individualist, her tulips are my favourite.
Favourite Children’s Books

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky – A simple message so relevant today as the original compelling message by Chief Seattle was 150 years ago.

Stunning illustrations by Susan Jeffers

The Tale of Three Trees – A biblical story that I love reading to my kids over and over again. Adapted by Angela Elwell Hunt

The Hungry Caterpillar – Such an incredibly delightful way to tell the story of a Caterpillars life cycle with very contemporary illustrations for the time it was written Eric Carl

Just A Dream – I just cam across this book last week in the library and I have to say it really is a fabulously written story about the environment. I love it! Chris Van Allsburg

Far too many Poetry Books to Mention.

My daughter and youngest son love reading the children’s Poetry books by Puffin. They love to make up their own, it’s such fun. My daughter, Jasmine just recently had one of her poems published, here in Canada.

I like the simple things in life. Like walking through forests, smelling the pine and feeling that sense of freedom and calmness come over me, for me that’s true peace. I feel connected to nature, after all, we are all nature.
One of my favourite quotes:

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like falling leaves.” John Muir