From Eggboy to epic adventures, meet the playful world-builder dreaming up characters you’ll want to follow anywhere.
This week we shine a spotlight on award-winning creative Billy Partridge and welcome you to Kookaway Island and the potion-making prodigy... Eggboy ! This is Billy's gloriously offbeat animated series idea - a bold, character-led world brimming with humour, magic, heart and friendship all set in an surreal wonderland. He has built an entire universe of eccentric personalities, The Potioneers, set in magical environments, with an adventure story that feels ready to leap onto a screen. It's a brilliant example of Billy's instinct for character design and cinematic storytelling. Read more about this project over on Billy portfolio HERE.
That same instinct runs through everything Billy creates. An award-winning graduate of Leeds Arts University, he quickly scooped the prestigious Society of Artists' Agents Award for New Talent in the World Illustration Awards 2023, an accolade which helped cement his future career in illustration. His debut graphic novel Hupo and the Wonder Thief, published by Flying Eye Books, announced him as a new major voice in publishing, blending warmth, wit and immersive world-building.
Now based in Edinburgh, Billy is surrounded by nature, folklore and mythology, and this alongside his passion for animation, cartoons and the work of Studio Ghibli help him create and furnish his imaginary worlds. Each visual adventure is filled with zany beings for which he weaves fantastical stories, capturing the imagination of even the most reluctant of readers. When not rambling in the Scottish Highlands trying to decipher various maps, Billy is a prolific and passionate doodler, working with spontaneity and an integral understanding of visual storytelling.
Billy’s character-led thinking translates seamlessly into publishing, branding, advertising and animation development. His growing client list includes Flying Eye Books, Nexus Studios, Tonko House and Spinmaster Entertainment, while his engaged Instagram following of almost 11k offers a glimpse into the energy behind the scenes - from concept sketches to animated pitch posters and commercial collaborations, including character-driven speculative designs for a range of t-shirts for Nike.
You can discover more - including Eggboy and Billy's full portfolio - over on our website. Here's a quick link:
We can’t wait to bring more of Billy’s incredible creations to you because there are many more exciting worlds yet to be discovered (we’d better get a map!)
Grab a copy of Hupo and the Wonder Thief published by Flying Eye Books, you can also pre-order book 2 in the series Hupo and the Doom Lagoon HERE.
Don’t forget to check out Billy and his amazing creations on Instagram.
For more information regarding collaborating with this exciting new creative talent please do drop us a line info@arenaillustration.com, we look forward to hearing from you.
