Wallpaper That Changes was conceived during the last days of a cold North Wales February, when I was limping to the end of edits on my debut novel The Woman in the Wallpaper. The book I had been busy writing for the previous five years tells the story of rich and poor, of a working class unable to feed itself. And I couldn't help but find myself thinking: has anything really changed?

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The cost of living crisis that has been unfolding for the past few years here in the UK has seen the prices of rents, utilities bills and groceries skyrocket, leaving many forced to rely on foodbanks to survive. It is remarkable how, in the 21st century, the divide between rich and poor appears to be widening, leaving a potentially catastrophic chasm between classes not so dissimilar to that in pre-revolutionary France.

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As a result, I wanted to create something that I could sell in aid of a charity related to my story. I settled on the idea of choosing a few key motifs from my novel and bringing them to life in a series of pencil drawings that could be viewed both the right way up and upside down to offer totally different images. 

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The result is Wallpaper That Changes, the designs of which are now available on a range of products: from tote bags to prints, scarves to literal wallpaper. All profits from the proceeds of all sales will be donated to The Trussell Trust, a UK-based anti-poverty charity. It is my hope that as well as my 'wallpaper' changing depending on which way it is viewed, it might also make some small difference to the lives of others.

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In addition to the range of Wallpaper That Changes merchandise, in March 2025 I will be releasing specially-presented versions of both my UK and US editions of The Woman in the Wallpaper, with all profits from every book sold also going to the Trussell Trust.

 

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