Illustration alumna’s graphic novel garners praise from The Guardian and The Sunday Times
28 May 2025
Falmouth Illustration BA(Hons) alumna Lucie Ebrey’s career has blossomed since she graduated from the course in 2015. She has authored her own graphic novel, including a Wild West children’s adventure entitled Cowgirls and Dinosaurs, with her work garnering praise from the likes of The Sunday Times and The Guardian.
Cowgirls and Dinosaurs follows the crime-busting adventures of protagonist Abigail, her pet dinosaur, and the sheriff’s daughter Clementine as they go on a mission to save the town from a group of bandits in a humorous tale of friendship and magic. It is Lucie’s first published novel after featuring in several publications including Oxford University Press, Boom! Studios, and Rebellion Publishing.
We chatted with Lucie to learn more about her time studying at Falmouth, her publishing journey, and the advice she would give to budding illustrators.
How did you find studying at Falmouth and what did you value most about the course?
I really enjoyed my time at Falmouth, and a big part of that experience was working alongside like-minded people for the first time. It really was something special. Falmouth gave me the foundations I needed to work independently and confidently as a cartoonist/illustrator, and it provided me with the tools to navigate the industry the best I could. I’ve learned a lot more about it in the decade since, and the industry has certainly changed a lot in that time, but I got my bearings thanks to the advice I was given at Falmouth.
And of course, being so close to the beach and such beautiful landscapes was a huge plus!
You’ve since published the children’s graphic novel Cowgirls and Dinosaurs. How did you find the process of writing and illustrating your own book?
It’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever undertaken. Publishing a graphic novel was a dream of mine and having the opportunity for it to happen was a special moment. I’d only ever created short comics at that point, which were a maximum of 10-16 pages. Being given the reins to create novel that was around 280 pages (whoops!) was a dizzying endurance test, both narratively and artistically. I learned so much about myself as an artist.
Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the book?
When I was asked to pitch my concept, I was surprised by my sudden paralysis. I took some time to brainstorm ideas, and I tried to lean into things that not only kids would be excited to read about but what I would be excited to draw. After a lot of tweaking and refining with my agent, we settled on the mashup of cowgirls and dinosaurs—a concept born from my childhood love of dinosaurs mixed with my general love of all things great American plains.
What else have you been up to since graduating?
Comics have been my focus since graduating. This has included both publishing my own comics and zines and selling them either online or at art shows and comic conventions.
I’ve also created comic strips for magazines, illustrated covers for children’s books, and even made a print-at-home board game. Generally, I like to try and work on as many cool opportunities as I can. It’s very busy!
What would you say to someone who dreams of becoming an illustrator?
The best advice I can give is to develop a firm sense of discipline as soon as you can, and to get to grips with time management. These two things will rule your life if you decide to become an illustrator; getting on top of them as soon as you can will help you to understand your limits.
I also think you should try to consume as much media as you can and actively seek out the weird movies and books that are out there.
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