'The Runaways' Book Cover by Lucy Davey

Liam Diane at Scholastic, commissioned Lucy Davey to create an atmospheric, wraparound book cover for The Runaways – a YA novel by bestselling author Holly Webb. The book is set during WWII and features a group of high-spirited, runaway evacuees. Lucy was asked to illustrate the protagonist Molly and her dog silhouetted amongst piles of rubble in war-ravaged London. The client was keen to use a limited colour palette on the cover, and the published book will also feature teal foil. Lucy initially designed her cover in pencil and then finalised her artwork digitally, using a combination if Procreate and Photoshop.

Despite the challenge of illustrating a 1940s London skyline that was blitzed yet also recognisable, Lucy said that it was “really nice working on a cover for such an atmospheric story”. We think that she has managed to illustrate a desolate scene with an abundance of heart-warming visual narrative, and evoke a convincing sense of time and place.

The Runaways will be published and available to buy from the 3rd of October 2019.