This book offers an in-depth look into the creative process of director Joanna Quinn and screenwriter Les Mills, including a range of sketches, storyboards, final artwork and entertaining and insightful commentary from both Joanna and Les.

Included is a scene-by-scene adaptation of the Academy Award®- and BAFTA-nominated Affairs of the Art, a film about Beryl’s extraordinary family whose interests become all-consuming – from pickling, to body painting, to taxidermy, no passion is off limits. Welcome to the extraordinary world of Beryl!

Beryl is the unconventional heroine and a beloved star of the animation world – a middle-aged woman navigating life’s challenges with determination and humour. From factory worker to aspiring artist, Beryl’s journey is a celebration of female empowerment and the pursuit of dreams, making her an endearing character who resonates deeply with audiences everywhere.

Through revealing and often hilarious anecdotes, you’ll learn about Joanna and Les’s creative backgrounds and how they develop their ideas. With comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll see how they take the initial concept of an idea to final production Ideal for animation students, Beryl fans,
and everyone really!

Cardiff based Beryl Productions has been in existence since 1987 and specialises in individually hand-drawn character animation. Their raison d’être is to produce high quality, accessible animation using humour as an essential element. Apart from their film work, they have created TV commercials for clients including Procter & Gamble, Fallon, KalKan, Coca Cola, Nestlé, United Airlines.

A full list of awards and festival selections for Affairs of the Art can be seen here:

Click here for Beryl productions

‘Joanna Quinn has long been one of the world’s leading lights in animation and most inspirational and affable of people. Her prolific, and highly observant drawing style, is as fluid and generous as her sense of comedy and fun, and the earthy and memorable characters that ignite into life whenever she puts pencil to paper.’
Nick Park, Academy Award® and Bafta winning Director, Producer, Animator and Writer (inc Creature Comforts The Wrong Trousers, Chicken Run)

‘Joanna Quinn is an animator like no other. When she puts pencil to paper, she expresses the ridiculousness of life with extraordinary beauty and skill. Joanna’s character Beryl is the most truthful, absurd and entertaining expressions of true femininity I have ever seen. Readers are in for such a treat!’
Nora Twomey, Academy Award® nominated Director, Producer and writer and partner in Cartoon Saloon studios (incuding The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner, My Father’s Dragon)