'A Sky Full of Stories' - Inside Kerry Darlington’s Enchanting New Collection

In Deep in the Whispering Wood, Kerry Darlington invites collectors back into the world of The Magic Faraway Tree, where every branch holds a story, and every detail feels abundantly alive. From Moon-Face’s familiar, knowing expression to Silky, the Saucepan Man, and the ever-watchful Angry Pixie, the tree is filled with the characters who have lingered in imagination for generations.

Joe, Beth, Frannie, and Rick gather within its branches, mid-adventure, as ladders lean and tiny doors open into hidden worlds. Above them, the Land of Toys arrives in a joyful sweep of colour; carousel horses, painted rooftops, and playful forms drifting softly through the clouds, while below, Kerry’s own woodland characters go about their day, bringing a gentle stillness beneath the magic above.

A piece rooted in nostalgia yet full of new discovery, Deep in the Whispering Wood is one that continues to unfold, a reminder that the most magical places are the ones we return to, again and again.

In Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?, Kerry Darlington draws collectors into one of the most delightfully perplexing moments from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, where, as the Mad Hatter reminds us, “time has quite forgotten me.”

Alice sits at the tea table, thoughtful and quietly puzzled, caught in that familiar pause between question and answer. Around her, the scene begins to unravel in true Wonderland fashion, teacups stack and overflow, the Doormouse rests softly nearby, and a small bottle marked “Drink Me” waits patiently to be noticed.

Just beyond, the Cheshire Cat lingers with his unmistakable grin, half-hidden among the branches, while scattered playing cards and curious objects hint at a world where logic slips just out of reach. Every detail feels intentional, yet wonderfully unresolved, as though the answer is there, if only you look long enough.

Long inspired by the work of Arthur Rackham, Darlington returns to Wonderland here with a more figurative hand, allowing Alice herself to take focus, more present, more expressive, inviting you into her moment of curiosity.

A moment suspended somewhere between sense and nonsense, Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk? reminds us that not every question needs an answer, only curiosity.

We all felt that this piece brought a softer, more reflective note to the Sky Full of Stories collection. Any Day Spent With You Is My Favourite Day felt especially meaningful because it tapped into the emotional heart of the story rather than simply its familiarity. Kerry has a gift for finding the tenderness within a subject, and that quality came through so strongly here. This style of artwork could bring a calm, affectionate presence into any space. It's the sort of work that resonates on a deeply personal level, whether through memories of the original story or maybe through the feeling of comfort, friendship, and quiet joy that it evokes.

In Peter and Wendy in Neverland, Kerry Darlington captures one of the most quietly powerful moments from J.M. Barrie’s timeless story, not the adventure itself, but the connection at its heart.

Peter Pan and Wendy Darling stand together within the wild, untamed beauty of Neverland, a place where “all children, except one, grow up.” Here, time feels suspended. The noise of pirates, Lost Boys, and distant battles fades, leaving only a moment of stillness between them; something fleeting, and all the more meaningful because of it.

Wendy, thoughtful and grounded, meets Peter’s world with curiosity and warmth, while Peter, forever untethered to time, exists somewhere between freedom and something he cannot quite hold onto. Their connection is gentle, unspoken, and filled with the quiet tension that runs through Barrie’s story; the pull between childhood and the inevitability of growing up.

Surrounded by soft botanical forms and the suggestion of a landscape that feels both real and imagined, the piece reflects Neverland not as a place, but as a feeling, something remembered rather than seen.

A piece that speaks to memory, imagination, and the fragile beauty of moments that cannot last, Peter and Wendy in Neverland feels less like a scene, and more like something remembered, just out of reach, yet impossible to forget.

With Lyra and Lorek, Kerry once again touched on a world that feels grand in imagination but deeply intimate in emotion, which makes it such a natural fit for her as an artist. There is a sense of courage, loyalty, and wonder within that story that translates beautifully through her work, especially when handled with the softness and emotional intelligence that collectors so often respond to in her paintings. It is the kind of piece that can transform a room, not through loudness, but through presence, drawing people in through its feeling, its literary connection, and its sense of adventure.

Beneath a glowing tree of gold leaf, a gathering begins. Deer rest gently beside rabbits, foxes settle close, and birds perch quietly above, as though drawn together by something unspoken. Lanterns glow softly within the branches, casting a warm light across the scene, while a simple picnic lies undisturbed at the centre, a quiet invitation rather than an event.

There is no urgency here, no movement to disrupt the calm. Instead, the piece holds a sense of harmony, a shared space where everything feels connected, and entirely at ease.

A more intimate counterpart to Kerry’s earlier work Our Own Little Paradise, this composition feels both familiar and refined, focusing on the beauty of togetherness in its simplest form.

A piece of quiet presence and understated beauty, Our Golden Canopy offers something increasingly rare - a moment of peace, held in place.