A Co Down artist has turned his hand to a new talent, penning his first children's book just in time for Halloween.
But before moving into the world of kids fiction, dad-of-one Rory Rea has been busy making a name for himself as a top caricaturist.
And earlier this year, Rory's talents even landed him a dream role in the final episode of hit Channel 4 comedy, Derry Girls.
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Originally from Downpatrick but now based in south Belfast, Rory, 34, is a well-established caricature and illustration artist, producing commissioned prints and regularly entertaining people with his live caricature drawings at events across Northern Ireland.
He has just published, Hopeful Harold & His Haunted Home in time for Halloween and hopes more will be in the pipeline.
"I am a self taught caricaturist, initially learning my craft in secondary school by drawing funny pictures of my teachers at St Colmcille's High School in Crossgar instead of listening to them teach!" Rory said.
"After this I began studying caricature art and mastering my craft, studying the work of professional caricature and cartoon artists such as Tom Richmond and Mort Drucker. I also provide entertainment at weddings, parties and corporate events, doing live caricature drawings of guests, which I love doing."
Fans of Rory's caricature work were certainly surprised to see him pop on the small screen back in May in the special finale of Derry Girls.
"I got a call to say the makers of the show were looking for a caricature artist for one of the episodes and since there aren't that many of us around, I put my name forward and sent them some of my portfolio," he explained.
"Within a day, I heard back that it was a yes so that was a gig I wasn't going to turn down so I briefly appeared as an artist with my drawings featuring in the finale of the show.
"It was during Jenny Joyce’s elaborate Halloween party alongside Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), James (Dylan Llewellyn) and Orla (Louisa Harland) and later with Ma Mary (Tara Lynne O’Neill) and Aunt Sarah (Kathy Kiera Clarke).
"It was such an amazing experience on the set and quite surreal to be amongst some of the main cast and drawing all their characters. It just goes to show that you never know where you can end up as a caricaturist!"
Rory says the idea of a children's book has always been in the pipeline.
"Given my creative imagination I have always developed fun stories and unique characters for children with the aim of venturing into children’s literature. The book has been a side project for around the past year and something I wanted to accomplish in time for Halloween," he said.
"It's called Hopeful Harold & His Haunted Home and focuses on Harold the Vampire and his scary housemates who live in their eerie, creepy, and mysterious haunted home, hidden far, far away from humans.
"It's the story of Harold and his spooky friends, magical Witch Wendy, enormous Fred Frankenstein, Bogre the smelly Ogre and the fluffy Boogaboos, and how they need to work together to save their haunted home.
"It has an important message for children around friendship, having hope and overcoming a difficult situation. In this case it's a haunted house and having to form relationships with humans to create what's called the 'Magic Spirit' in the book, which in turn saves their home."
Rory added: "The feedback so far has been very positive and even though it's aimed at kids aged six and above, it seems to appeal to a wide range of children.
"I'm hopeful for more children's fiction books in the future as that's what I want to focus on as well as developing my Funky Doodles business alongside that."
Hopeful Harold and His Haunted Home is out now in paperback and available to buy now on Amazon.
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