When creating ‘The owl’ I was tapping into a long-held feeling of comfort evoked by the imagery of an owl in a large tree on a moonlit night. As a child, I had a glow-in-the-dark book with this kind of imagery that helped me see the night as less scary and more majestic. I am not sure what happened to that book. Here I have created a homage to not just the book, but also the feeling of empowerment and peace in the moonlight, and to having a sense of someone or something keeping watch over you. The owl is the focal point, with more detail and texture – the bushy chest and brow bring me much joy. The moon and background are minimal to make the scene feel more like a cartoon.