Alex T. Smith creates enchanting artwork for magical trilogy.
It seems like a mere moment ago that we first shared The Miraculous Sweetmakers, written by Natasha Hastings and illustrated by our very own Alex T. Smith, which published to huge critical acclaim back in 2022 and was swiftly crowned as one of Waterstones Books of the Year .
The Miraculous Sweetmakers; The Frost Fair, proved to be an instant hit, showcasing Alex’s extraordinary skill for character creation and world building, this was followed by book two, The Sea Queen, (you can find out more about these delicious books over on our news page) We think you’ll agree the lavish colours and elaborate cover treatments really add something special to this stunning series.
As we leap into 2026, we are treated to the final story in this epic trilogy, where we re-join Thomasina and Anne on their quest to discover the source of a mysterious voice. Seat-gripping adventure ensues as the girls’ friendship faces the ultimate test. With beautiful black and white feature illustrations, this final instalment offers readers a moment of pure escapism for fans of fun-filled fantasy adventure.
As one of the most recognisable artistic talents in children’s publishing today, Alex still finds time to sketch for pleasure, often inspired by the creatures and characters he regularly encounters, and some of whom star in various guises his own stories. His observational skills have elevated him to becoming one of the best of the best in terms of illustrative talent, but his storytelling is also second to none, positively brimming with comedy and charm.
The Storm Prince publishes with Harper Collins and can be purchased at all good book shops and libraries and why not take a moment to watch the animated book trailer.
You can find Alex on Instagram where he shares amongst other things, delightful photos of his menagerie, creative projects, events as well as his wonderful Substack weekly newsletter Joy Parade which is filled to the brim with jollity and not to be missed.
For more information regarding collaborating with Alex please email info@arenaillustration.com or visit his newly updated online portfolio, which now features The Miraculous Sweetmakers as a new highlight project.
