An artist, a teacher, and a long road through Japan.
Nikolas Hanson writes and illustrates every Lapis Tree book.
"A chance meeting with an old high-school friend produced the inspiration for my first children's storybook."
- Making art for
- 25+ years
- Inspired by
- Japanese history & myth
- Teaching
- Primary education
- Based in
- United Kingdom
I've been a keen artist for over twenty-five years. I studied art throughout my time in education and carried it into my adult life. My interest in history led me to a rich source of inspiration in Japan's historical periods and myths.
That passion made me want to explore Japan after completing university. I travelled around the world and lived overseas for many years, working in a wide range of educational settings.
Once I had returned from Japan and settled back into life here in the UK, I hoped to draw on those experiences and share my imagination with the world. I wasn't sure how, until a chance meeting with an old high-school friend gave me the idea for my first children's storybook.
Since then I've been busy creating new ideas for picture books I hope to publish in the future. Along the way, I also completed my teacher training in primary education.
Why "Lapis Tree"?
Lapis is the deep blue stone flecked with gold that gives these books their colours, and the name of a story still in the works. In Japanese it's 瑠璃 (ruri). The tree is where every story starts to grow.
Three threads run through every book
History and myth
Japan's historical periods and old legends are a deep well of ideas: spirits, dragons, long journeys and quiet kindness.
Years of travel
Living and working overseas for many years brought new places, people and ways of seeing that find their way onto every page.
Time in the classroom
Teaching in schools around the world, then training in primary education, keeps the stories pitched just right for young readers.
Paintings, sketches and works in progress
A look inside the studio: storyboard pages, character studies and finished paintings for the books on the way.
From sketchbook to story
- A lifelong artistDrawing and painting from school days onwards, with art studied right through education and into adult life.
- Finding JapanA love of history led to Japanese periods and myths, and a wish to see the country after university.
- Years overseasTravelling the world and teaching in a wide range of schools and colleges abroad.
- Home to the UKBack home with a head full of experiences, and looking for a way to share them.
- A chance meetingAn old high-school friend, and an illustration commissioned for their daughter, became The Dragon Walker.
- Teacher trainingAlongside the book, completing teacher training in primary education.
- More stories growingRossi the Road Racing Rhino is coming soon, with The Dragon Walker Part 2 and Lapis in the works.
Invite the dragon to your school
Teachers and librarians are welcome to get in touch about readings and art sessions for primary classes.