iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I haven’t been here a while due to brain capacity, but think it’s going to be my platform of choice since meta is falsely labelling my work (and that of lots of other artists) as AI. I don’t want to spend my life arguing with robots about reality. So, analogue project! Wanna exchange letters? ♥️

010

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Day 6 of ‘From the Archives’. Sailing over Storr

084

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Day 5 of ‘from the archives’; Morning Song ♥️

031

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Day 4 of ‘from the archives’… Dance partners

0111

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Day 3 of ‘from the archives’, adventure walking 🌷

092

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Day 2 of ‘from the archives’, a very fluffy tree

061

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

I think I’d like to make a book all about sleeping. Or maybe I just want to sleep more. 🥰 #kidlit #kidlitart

18210

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

It’s paperback publication week for ‘The Night Whale’ by Bryher Mackenzie and I, with Walker Books. Such a lovely project to work on ♥️. #kidlitart #kidlit #picturebook

2182

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Never weary of painting my whale dreams 💙🐋

63710

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Feeling quite fancy about appearing in my first proper literary festival soon ♥️🐋✨

081

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – Nelson Mandela #illustration

0252

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

A sketch of my neighbour, who became a painter in her seventies

2202

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Ohhh hi I totally forgot to keep up with this app… is it still brimming full of #kidlit people here? Anyway, here’s a few recent-ish doodles. How’s everyone been? ♥️

2373

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 19/07/2024

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."- Carl Sagan. Oh, how I think about this quote a lot. #kidlit #kidlitart

2386

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 16/07/2024

Our County Durham village now has 32 new published authors and illustrators after the class of 8-9 year olds I’ve been working with all year launched their very own book yesterday! What a day! 🥳♥️✨

150

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 16/07/2024

Send me pics of your favourite libraries, indie bookshops and children's spaces. We're audaciously hoping for a local literacy space in future and making a vision board <3 #kidlit #kidlitart #literacy

150

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 13/07/2024

Planning a travel from UK to Maine and Nova Scotia/PEI next summer and very much open to doing workshops, book events and collaborations while there, so feel free to say hi if a Scottish illustrator with whimsical tendencies is your thing ☺️♥️ #kidlit #kidlitart

2172

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 11/07/2024

Thrilled to reveal the cover of ‘Girls Belong in Space’ by amazing author Ashlee Hashman and I, a lyrical celebration of the mighty women of the space programme (including soon-to-be first woman on the moon, Christina Koch.) Published by Harper on March 18th, 2025. #kidlit #kidlitart

0220

Reposted by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara

Katie Dwyer @katiedwyer.bsky.social · 11/07/2024

It’s #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Katie Dwyer, illustrator-writer for picture books. I love telling stories about wonder, adventure, nature, and kindness. I would love to illustrator your next picture book, chapter book, or cover. I’m currently seeking representation. 🌎 katiedwyerillustrations.com

Illustration in watercolor and pencil. Little boy standing in light, surrounded by dark shadows of people.

24510

Reposted by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara

Lauren Gallegos @laurengallegos.bsky.social · 09/07/2024

It’s #PortfolioDay! Unfortunately, I hardly ever participate but I wanted to share a spread from You Will Always Belong that I love and was one of the only images that made it all the way through the process almost “as-is”. #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard

1494

Reposted by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara

Mark Hoffmann @studiohoffmann.bsky.social · 11/07/2024

Are you having a good summer so far like this pirate? I’m in Ireland and actually visited a shipwreck. It must have been cursed, since I then got Covid. Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. My name is Mark Hoffmann and I’m a kidlit author/illustrator. I am rep’d by Jenn Laughran with Andrea Brown Literary

816230

Reposted by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara

Hey Crystal Smith Illustrates @crystalsmithart.bsky.social · 11/07/2024

Hello #kidlitartpostcardday! I am a short, west coast #kidlit illustrator who loves nature & neon, crazy ideas & amazing characters. I illustrate #picturebooks and take freelance work. I am #seekingrepresentation and always open to exciting projects! #KidLitArt #KidLitArtPostCard #illustration

29022

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 11/07/2024

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day ✨! I’m Gillian O’Mara; a Scottish light-chasing, daydreaming author-illustrator, published by Walker, HarperCollins and others. I love nature, luminous things, poetic and lyrical things and rich colour and texture.Pleased to meet you all ♥️ Rep’d by @literaticat.bsky.social

1328

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 10/07/2024

Really enjoyed doing a takeover of Walker Books social feeds this week, not least because Bryher and I get to announce that we’re making a second Walker Book together too 🥳 #kidlit #kidlitart

030

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 09/07/2024

#kidlit people, I have a favour to ask. I have a class of 31 kids releasing a book they made next week and would LOVE to gather some well-wishes for them from authors and illustrators via a quick video or voice message. If you’re willing to send a shoutout to Willow Class, let me know ♥️🙏🏼

352

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 04/07/2024

Can anyone recommend any picture books that are about/for foster children, even if done in a subtle or allegorical way? #kidlit #kidlitart

153

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 30/06/2024

A Marmalade Jar full of stars… a personal homage to daughter of Dundee and discoverer of nebulae and supernovae, Williamina Fleming. #dundee #millsobservatory #marmalade #williaminafleming #kidlitart #kidlit

081

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 29/06/2024

Something fun for 2025/26, and I’m going to head to Maine in summer 2025 to work on it, which means I’m open to possible USA collabs, workshops and events next summer while over there from the UK ✨✨✨ #kidlit #kidlitart

161

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 28/06/2024

One of my publishers signed an email ‘Love and starry sprinkles’ today and another yesterday made time to chat about our pets during the call, with one of the team dialling in at 1am to make the time differences work- talk about dedication. In short, I just love book people, you’re a lovely bunch.

0140

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 23/06/2024

Hey #kidlit, what are your favourite picture books or illustrated books about rivers and seas? #kidlitart

480

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 23/06/2024

Love incorporating some repeat patterns into paintings #kidlit #kidlitart

2356

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 22/06/2024

I got to work with Smithsonian last year and this year and, just saying, it would be so nice to contribute art or stories to more work in conservation and scientific exploration. Doesn’t even have to be books, just things that connect people with important ideas ♥️ #kidlit #kidlitart

28611

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 22/06/2024

If you see this, quote reply with something summery from your portfolio! ☀️ #KidLitArt #art 🎨

4424

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

Found a bowl of milk in my little one’s room this morning as she was ‘being a kitten’ during the night apparently… this is her refusing to get dressed because ‘she’s a dog’, and many other adventures of hers. Grateful I get to live in her world. ❤️

0121

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 16/06/2024

Bryher Mackenzie and I went on a wee book tour this weekend, where we met a gorgeous array of people, shared stories and made sparkly night whales. Thank you to all who came #kidlit #kidlitart

1181

Gillian Eilidh O’Mara @lightonthesea.bsky.social · 15/06/2024

The creative conundrum of my year in both art and writing seems to be the search for balance between embracing abstraction enough to convey raw emotion, while maintaining enough detail to carry engaging plots and characters. Like anything rewarding, a real challenge! ✨#kidlit #kidlitart

1283