Hilary Geelan

Hilary Geelan

Specialities
Bookbinding, landscapes

Favourite destination
Shingle Street on the Suffolk coast

Favourite medium
Paper and watercolour

"I fill up sketchbooks quickly on my walks so that I can rush back to making more artists books - it's a magical process! I like to personalise each book cover so that each one is a work of art before I've even started sketching in it."

Hilary’s career in arts education has been a journey through diverse media, yet she always returns to her passions for wild landscapes and artist’s books. She delights in sharing the art of bookbinding with others, teaching both traditional and contemporary techniques for crafting artist’s books and sketchbooks.

Her personal works are inspired by the landscapes and weather of Suffolk, capturing fleeting moments experienced during her nature walks. Through watercolour and bookbinding, she preserves these ephemeral scenes in handmade books that feel like pieces of the landscape itself.

Hilary’s inventive approach to bookbinding reflects her love for functional, adaptable design. Each book is crafted with specific environments in mind, designed to fit into a pocket, a coat, or a bag, making her creations as practical as they are beautiful.