Energy Neighbours booklet cover
In early 2026, I connected with arts organisation Creative Scene to chat about a project called 'Energy Neighbours'. This is an incentive to combat the rising cost of living by raising awareness of energy usage and share useful ways to help families manage budgets and keep costs down.
I met with the ladies from Brighton Street Community Centre in Hechmondswyke, Kirklees, helped facilitate discussions, listening to concerns around energy prices and how to save money on bills. After a couple of chatty workshops, recording outcomes and some strong opinions, and with the amazing help of Clare, Rabia and Habiban, the next task was to convert this into a creative resource.
The illustration gauntlet was unwittingly thrown down by Clare when she showed me a wonderfully illustrated booklet by artist Len Grant, of whom I'm a fan. "Can you do something like this?", I was asked. Challenge most definitely accepted!
As a social engagement artist and illustrator, creating visuals that engage and communicate effectively is absolutely what Rocket Steps is about, and this was a joy to work on and bring to life.
Making the script from the discussions and deciding on image choices for the illustrations is done with a mindset of both facilitation and art direction. The words and content are those of the community group. I'm the messenger. With the help of the Energy Neighbours team, the booklet was converted into Urdu to reach as wide an audience as possible.
In April 2026 there was a launch event at the community centre with an amazing desi breakfast by the ladies' community group. Many thanks to the Energy Neighbours team, Brighton Street community group and Nancy at Creative Scene for bringing me in on this project.
You can see more examples here of projects where I've gone into communities, helped facilitate discussion groups, and collaborated to make creative work that spreads an important message.
Links:
Energy Neighbours
Creative Scene
Kirklees Third Sector Leaders
We are Brigantia
At the launch with Nancy Barratt from Creative Scene.
This booklet was made using Clip Studio Pro and Affinity Studio.
