Bethany, a 15‑year‑old student in Cambridgeshire, turned a school break into a career when she drew a portrait of visiting author Chip Colquhoun during a storytelling session. Colquhoun noticed the sketch and later commissioned her to illustrate his children’s book, "The Bestest Story in the World Ever!", which hit shelves in September 2026. The portrait also appeared in an educator’s guide on using storytelling as a teaching tool.
Bethany’s art has become a quiet rebellion against her situational mutism, a condition that leaves her silent in unfamiliar settings. She said drawing helped her focus, while her mother, Fiona, explained the anxiety that “almost paralyzes” her daughter when she cannot speak. The condition, experts say, stems from severe anxiety rather than a lack of language.
The illustrator’s breakthrough has opened doors she never imagined. She has attended two book launches and been interviewed twice by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Louise Hulland, a stark contrast to her former reluctance to speak in public. Colquhoun praised her talent, noting that her illustrations give her a voice when words fail.
Now Bethany is juggling schoolwork with three new illustration projects, including a third children’s book that keeps her drawing into the late evening. Her routine, which starts around 8 p.m., allows her to keep up with studies while advancing her creative career.
The next milestone is the release of her third book, expected in early 2027, which will solidify her status as a rising talent in the UK publishing scene.