The Teardrop Island by Cherry Briggs

 I was asked by Summersdale Publishers to design a cover for The Teardrop Island by Cherry Briggs.

The book follows in the footsteps of the eccentric Victorian, James Emerson Tennet, along a route which takes the author to pilgrimage trails, into tea reserves and rural regions inhabited by indigenous tribes, as well as restricted areas of the former warzone.

Designing a complete cover is a new venture for me and one that I relished. Having put together some roughs, this vibrant red and purple design was chosen, giving a contemporary touch to the travelogue, while the distressed period type was a nod to the tale's Victorian inspiration.

I was also asked to draw a map of the route. I had some fun with this, researching Sri Lanka's tourist spots and making the most of the basic black print by creating simple distressed imagery and hand drawn lettering to echo the period feel of the cover type.