Doncaster author and artist team up for new children's book

A local first-time author and an illustrator with a growing reputation have collaborated in publishing “The Galley Gang”, a children’s book in the traditional style.

It tells the story of the pots, pans, crockery and utensils in the galley kitchen aboard a canal boat.

Hatfield resident, Ann Bell, who wrote “The Galley Gang”, first came up with the idea of giving character to household objects for a children’s story over thirty years ago.

She later decided to set the tale on a canal boat, after chatting to friends who have a narrowboat of their own.

But it wasn’t until 2023, when Ann attended an evening course led by Doncaster writer and illustrator of children’s books, Phil Sheppard, that “The Galley Gang” started really to take shape.

Want more stories like this? Click here to get our daily newsletter

On the same evening course was Rossington-based artist, Natalie Parfitt, who was keen to put her drawing skills to good use by illustrating a book.

Natalie and Ann decided that they could combine their ambitions and work together on what was to become the 72-page volume that has now been published.

Said Ann, ‘I’m over the moon that Natalie agreed to illustrate “The Galley Gang”.

“Her drawings have really brought the characters to life, and they bring a blaze of colour to every single page of the book.”

For Natalie, one of the aspects of Ann’s writing that attracted her to the project was the way that each chapter is a short story in its own right. ‘Even if a child doesn’t yet have the reading skills to read “The Galley Gang” themselves, a parent can read a single chapter to them as a bedtime tale, as each has a definite start and finish’ said Natalie.

Many of Natalie’s illustrations feature the Roses and Castles style of art, a traditional decorative painting technique commonly seen on canal boats.

Today, Roses and Castles canal art is recognised as an endangered craft.

“The Galley Gang” was launched at an event held recently at the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum, Doncaster, alongside an ongoing exhibition of Natalie’s illustrations. As well as Ann and Natalie sharing their thoughts about the book, Phil Sheppard read several passages to the assembled guests.

The book is generally aimed at children of primary school age. To help nurture a love of reading among Doncaster’s children, Ann is donating a copy of “The Galley Gang” to every primary and junior school in the Borough. A copy is also being provided to each of the City’s libraries.

The Galley Gang is available from www.amazon.co.uk.

For further information, please visit www.facebook.com/TheGalleyGangBook.