Ntasha illustrating worlds apart
A final-year illustration student is blending her British Indian heritage and fascination with Indian symbols with one of science fiction's most famous stories, The War of the Worlds, as she competes for a digital publishing commission.
Ntasha Charles, an illustration student at the University of Westminster, is one of six students bidding for a paid brief to illustrate for children’s publisher Booktime as part of its ‘Brief to Publication’ programme.
The 22‑year‑old from Harrow chose the science‑fiction classic by HG Wells from a list of titles provided by the publisher which challenges students to create accompanying artwork, with each participant selecting a different story.
“I’m interested in Indian deities and otherworldly ideas and saw a connection with the aliens in The War of the Worlds,’ said Ntasha.
“Indian gods and sci-fi aliens are interesting ways of imagining powerful beings from outside human experience, and I wanted to explore that visually.
“I tied the story that was set in the Victorian era with my background because I am an Indian British myself. I like how identity intertwines making the storytelling much more rich in historical and personal context for me.”
The free Booktime app, an initiative of the Hindawi Foundation charity, provides free access to a multilingual library of illustrated books reaching more than 250,000 readers monthly.
“Our platform depends on fresh creative talent to shape its visual identity,” said Booktime founder Ahmed Hindawi.
“Illustration sits at the core of how we tell stories, and bringing emerging illustrators into that process introduces a range of ideas that keeps Booktime vibrant and forward looking.”
Emma Dodson, BA (Hons) Illustration & Visual Communication course leader at the University of Westminster, said the project gives students experience of working to professional expectations.
“Live briefs are incredibly valuable because they give students the opportunity to work with real clients and experience the expectations of industry while they’re still studying.
“Opportunities like this are so important because they give students something very close to real-world practice. Whether or not they are ultimately selected for commission, they are building professional portfolios and learning how to respond to industry expectations.”
The War of the Worlds, published in 1898, is about an alien attack on Earth from Mars and remains a landmark science fiction novel for its portrayal of human vulnerability in the face of superior technology.
Hindawi Foundation produces free children’s books in multiple languages, commissioning original stories and illustrations each month. The Booktime app and website currently offer books in 10 languages and hope to expand its catalogue to 15 by 2027.
