Inspired by old stories, the mystical world, and wild spaces, Eli's art captures the magic of nature and folklore and is often symbolic.

Fine Art Photography

Fine art photographs inspired by nature and what is felt rather than what is seen.

Illustrations & Paintings

Magical, dreamlike illustrations inspired by a deep connection to nature, especially woodlands and water, but also the moon and the stars and everything else in between.

Children's Book Illustrations

Inspired by stories and folktales, creating illustrations for children's books was a natural progression. Eli's first commission was to bring the adventurous Fiery Fox to life for author, Teresa Davis.

“What I hope to capture is magic and wildness in my work”

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Roald Dahl

The changing mood and seasons in the woods - so magical. I lost myself here for a couple of hours - no sense of time - an indulgence of the senses and beauty all around.

#woodland #woodlandfairytale #magicalforest #bluebells #ancientwoodland #woodlandtrust #englishwoodland #elireeskingphotography

I'm really enjoying experimenting and playing with media and colour - and letting go of trying to reach perfection.

Painting with gouache is something new for me - and at first didn't really take to it after being so used to acrylic paint - but it's beginning to feel more comfortable and I'm loving the way it layers over different colours. I have painted a whole load of mountain scenes this week - all colours, shapes, light/dark! It's an exciting process as I work on the illustration style I'm happy with for my own book!!

#gouache #childrensbookillustrations #goodshipillustration

Happy World Book Day! Fiery Fox was my first commission - I loved creating his cheeky character and all the other animals in the story. Since then, I have illustrated two more books in the series. It's been a wonderful journey working with talented author, Teresa Davis of @bearbooksltd.

I am now working on a book of my own and also have another collaboration project in the pipeline. This is what I love to do.

#bookillustration #kidlit #childrensbookillustration #worldbookday

The last light slipped away. The silence only broken by the occasional crackling of a branch somewhere nearby - stepped on by a deer or maybe a fox. Peace in the freezing night - and then the moon...rising through the branches. Beauty in darkness.

#moonrise #silence #winterwoods #moonlight #january #winterforest #eveningwalk #winterwalk

The Hoofs Of The Horses - William Henry Ogilvie

“The hoofs of the horses! - Oh! witching and sweet
Is the music earth steals from the iron-shod feet;
No whisper of lover, no trilling of bird
Can stir me as hoofs of the horses have stirred.

They spurn disappointment and trample despair,
And drown with their drum-beats the challenge of care;
With scarlet and silk for their banners above,
They are swifter than Fortune and sweeter than Love.

On the wings of the morning they gather and fly,
In the hush of the night-time I hear them go by —
The horses of memory thundering through
With flashing white fetlocks all wet with the dew.

When you lay me to slumber no spot you can choose
But will ring to the rhythm of galloping shoes,
And under the daisies no grave be so deep
But the hoofs of the horses shall sound in my sleep“

#horse #hooves #soundofhorses #horsedream #loveofahorse #frostyday #riding #horselife #chestnuthorse

I love Christmas - always a magical time of year and so special to spend precious time with family. We always celebrate Christmas Eve - a wonderful bonus of having Finnish heritage. I could post the hilarious video of me and my brother dancing to River Dance but I am going to save that one 😂 Instead I’m posting the result of throwing molten tin into a bucket of cold water on New Years Eve to predict the future of the year ahead ( “Dating back to the eighteenth century, the casting of tin is a Finnish New Year’s Eve tradition performed to predict what the year ahead holds for one in different aspects of their life such as wealth, happiness and health”)

The picture is my tin creation - I see a fox and a crow or a wise old women - maybe creative inspiration for the coming months.

I would say 2024 has been a very good year - despite losing incredible people - cancer doesn’t choose but it acts as a reminder to be grateful for every second we have in this life. I enter 2025 fitter, stronger, and with a new love in my life - Tigger. I’m ready for new challenges and I’m so grateful for love, life, laughter, family, friends, health and happiness - and for the incredible people in my life that inspire me every day - you know who you all are x

#finnishteafiotion #newyear #2025 #predictions #grateful #fitnessmotivation

This year I have painted a few white horses - I haven’t questioned the symbolism - yet when I look back how did I not see the message there as clear as day!

White Horse Spirit Animal

As a spirit animal, the white horse embodies qualities of grace, beauty, and freedom. It serves as a guide in times of transformation and can help you tap into your inner strength and wisdom. The white horse spirit animal encourages you to follow your passion and embrace new beginnings with courage and confidence.

Today is the longest day of the year - Happy Winter Solstace. I think the white horse will appear a few more times yet!

The breathtaking raw beauty of Northumberland and County Durham made even more beautiful by the snow storm.

Wild places.
Wild spaces.
Peace in my heart.

#northumberland #countydurham #snowstrom #wildplaces

A lovely walk along the river this morning - I love the crisp chill in the air and the crunch of the last bits of snow underfoot.

“There is no better time than the autumn to begin forgetting the things that trouble us, allowing them to fall away like dried leaves. There is no better time to dance again, to make the most of every crumb of sunlight and warm body and soul with its rays before it falls asleep and becomes only a dim light bulb in the skies.”
― Paulo Coelho

Absolutely stunning colours in the woods today - grateful for simple pleasures. Egg sandwiches and hot chocolate picnic, and the gentle sound of leaves falling all around. This is heaven.

Yesterdays’ sunrise. I didn’t have time to watch the sun fully rise, even though I really wanted to see those first few rays of light burst from the horizon. This was enough though - a peachy glow and autumn mist and the here and now.

#sunrise #ukcountryside #morningglow #coloursinthesky #autumnmist #elireeskingphotography

I am in awe of Teresa - author extraordinaire of the Fiery Fox series @bearbooksltd.

Her vision is to create books for children based on stories that are fun to read and deliver important messages about safety, taking care of our planet, and being kind. I am so grateful to Teresa for trusting me to create the illustrations for the third book in the series. Fiery Fox and the Muddy Gift of Kindness. Teresa tells me that she already has orders from customers in the UK and in the USA and Canada!

Thanks for letting me be part of another amazing Fiery Fox adventure Teresa :)

#fieryfox #bearbooks #kidlit #forestschoolbook #kindnessbook #childrensbook #childrensbookillustrator #elireesking

Buzzards circling overhead. Their call instantly recognisable and I love hearing them.

#buzzards #cotswolds #hills #buzzards #englishcountryside #autumnwalk #elireesking

Finding your light. I have been wondering where mine has disappeared to lately. The everyday that finds a way to sneakily take over and the creative in me is pushed to the wayside as “busyness” reigns - this is when the light begins to show itself again. First quietly - a glimmer but then you can’t ignore it any longer and you have to listen and try and make sense of the quiet whisper in your heart. I’m listening…

#listentoyourheart #findyourlight #drawntothelight #moths #moon #darkness #halloween #witching hour #truth #happiness #creativelife #elireesking

When you have the beautiful Cotswold’s on your doorstop, what else is there to do but get out there for a walk. It was absolutely glorious up there and amazingly I didn’t see one person - just sheep, pheasant’s, a buzzard or two, squirrel’s, and lovely Robin singing its heart out - perfect.

#cotswolds #sundaymorning #autumnwalk

A beautiful couple of days in Devon and Cornwall - I couldn’t wait to get in the water. September is now here and I’m ready for it.

I’m already longing for the feeling of being back in the lake. Sauna, swim, sauna, swim and so it goes on.

Farewell song to the sandpiper. We cycled around the lake and found this baby sandpiper next to his mum who had been killed by a car. Unfortunately the baby sandpiper passed away too as he had an injury to his beak and it is just so difficult to save young birds. I think he felt safe for his last few hours.

#farewell #sandpiper #waterbird #finland #elireesking #childrensillustration #sketch #imagination

14 days of pure escape - space to be, space to breathe. Happy times.

And @warwickshireopenstudios 2024 begins! Seeing @mike.bagshaw.5 paint is something very special - what a talent he has! I am also here with the wonderful @bridget_steel_jessop and @matthew.rea at their beautiful venue @cotswoldedgestudios (no. 82 in Offenham). Open this weekend, next weekend and the weekend after.

I thought “Beauty in the Darkness” would work well as a fabric design - and I am so happy with the result! I will be bringing these with me for @warwickshireopenstudios - taking place 22 June to 07 July. @cotswoldedgestudios is a wonderful venue in a beautiful location (82 in the brochure)- fully accessible with parking, tea/coffee, cake! and not forgetting - incredible artists @mike.bagshaw.5 @bridget_steel_jessop @stinkingdaisy and Frank Bagshaw.

#warwickshireopenstudios #warwickshireartists #affordableart #elireesking

Almost time for @warwickshireopenstudios which means printing labels, putting cards into sleeves, packing prints and organising all my work I want to show. I’ll be over at @cotswoldedgestudios with @bridget_steel_jessop @mike.bagshaw.5 @matthew.rea (@stinkingdaisy) and Frank Bagshaw. Come along and see us! Find us on the @warwickshireopenstudios website - venue 82 (Evesham & Offenham)

The most lovely week in the Pyrenees. It was completely relaxing, inspiring and with great wine and the best of company. My brother is very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

edit: the man with the donkey is not my brother 😂

#pyrenees

A small section of one of the latest pages I’m working on for Fiery Fox the “Muddy Gift of Kindness”. I’m getting close to halfway and although the illustrations take time - I’m really enjoying the process and cannot wait to show @bearbooksltd the finished pages! I love this story - Teresa has written it so beautifully - it really is a heartwarming book.

#kidlitillustration #childrensbookillustrator #childrenbook_art #goodshipillustration #childhoodimagination #picturebookillustration #animaldrawings #elireesking

There is something I find very therapeutic about painting foliage and flowers. This layer will slowly be built up with other leaves and petals to give it depth. It is part of the first page of #fieryfox book 3 - all will be revealed when the book is finished - hopefully in time for Easter!

Having a break now to look at this again later. It’s an important lesson for me to walk away and see things with fresh eyes.

#botanicals #foliage #childrensbookillustrator #kidslitillustration #picturebookillustration #folkillustration #kidlitart #elireesking

Selkies, Dragons, Truth, Word Spells, and the “Stories in our Bones”. This was how I spent a couple of hours this afternoon - listening to stories told by @katesstorytree - losing ourselves in our imagination and finding wisdom in Kate’s words. While Kate spoke we doodled and collaged without care for precision or perfection - pictures appearing on the page like a spell from words. An afternoon for the soul and in the company of wonderful souls.

#stories #folklore #imagination #storytelling #selkies #wordspells #childrensbookillustrator #oldstories #elireesking

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