The funniest book of poetry in years – Victoria Burman’s Uplifting Odes For The Mildly Demented – is now in production. Hickathrift editor Dave is now putting it together, complete with the specially-commissioned drawings by talented Cambridge-born artist, Sharon Langley. Victoria and Sharon met at Bury St Edmunds Market, where Sharon has a popular stall selling her quirky designs on plant pots, cards and framed prints. Poet and artist clicked immediately.
Here’s how Sharon recalls that meeting of souls: “It was quite by chance that I met Victoria one Saturday at the Saturday market in Bury St Edmunds. She stopped by my stall when she spotted my hand-painted plant pots and cards and asked me if I would be willing to do some illustrations for a book she was working on.
“Victoria told me that my humorous style would fit perfectly with her poetry. I was a little unsure, but when she sent me some examples of her poems, I knew this was definitely my thing!
“I’ve loved drawing since I was a child, when I spent hours with my Beano and Dandy comics, carefully drawing the characters in my own way, and colouring them in. Fast forward a few decades and I somehow found myself doing my own designs – mainly animals – onto plant pots. I wanted to do something quirky and unique that brought smiles to people’s faces. I’ve since printed my designs onto cards and framed prints, which have proved very popular. I sell them on the Saturday and monthly markets in Bury St Edmunds.
“I hope my drawings have done Victoria’s poetry justice and that they make you smile as much as her poetry does!”
This brilliant book of humorous verse will be on sale later this month. In the meantime, here are a few of Sharon’s brilliant illustrations for the book.
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