Teenage artist finds confidence in illustrating

A 15-year-old girl who experiences situational mutism is now a published book illustrator after finding the confidence to share her artwork through storytelling.

Bethany, a student in Cambridgeshire, illustrated The Bestest Story in the World Ever! written by Chip Colquhoun and published last month.

Colquhoun asked Bethany to illustrate his book after she drew a portrait of him while she was in the audience listening to him deliver a storytelling session at her school.

The teenager said seeing her illustrations in print was "really weird and surreal".

When speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Louise Hulland, Bethany explained she drew Colquhoun as a way to concentrate on the session.

"Drawing at that point helped me focus, so I needed something to draw and he was right there," said Bethany.

She described her drawing of the Colquhoun as "very stylised", adding: "[It is] not really the style I draw in now, but it was. I would say it's pretty good for the skill set I had then."

Colquhoun said: "She wowed me first with the portrait of me that she created."

He added that he was "excited" by the idea that Bethany had used drawing to help her focus.

Bethany's portrait was used in one of the author's books, which detailed advice for educators on how to use storytelling as a teaching tool.

The 15-year-old explained she experiences situational mutism, adding: "I'd speak to certain people and then not really talk to others. It was mainly people I didn't feel comfortable with or didn't know that I didn't speak to."

She added: "I mean [illustrating] definitely improved my confidence a lot and I think it's just improved me as a person a little bit as well, because I'm able to do things I haven't done before.

"If I was here a few years ago, I wouldn't be doing this because I would be too nervous and I would be too stressed."

According to her mother, Fiona, Bethany developed full language skills as a child, but in "certain circumstances she is not able to use the language she does have".

Situational or selective mutism can affect people like Bethany when they are in a new, unfamiliar or unknown situation.

"It comes from a place of severe anxiety which almost paralyses her and she is unable to talk," said Fiona.

"When she is in familiar surroundings [or with] familiar and trusted people she is able to use her language skills - but not always."

Being situationally mute still has an enormous impact on Bethany's life and she remains unable to go anywhere outside of the house or school on her own, her mother said.

Bethany is now working on illustrations for a third book, as well as three drawings for another project.

She said she was managing to intersperse her drawing with her schoolwork.

"I mostly work later in the night, so 8-9ish for the drawings and then leave the schoolwork to the earlier points because I have more energy during later times," she said.

Fiona said Bethany had now attended two book launches and had been interviewed by two radio stations.

"She now has the chance to feel proud. She still can't do any of these things on her own, but with support she has wanted to try," said Fiona.

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