International MA Illustration student publishes first children’s book

Subject area: Art and design
Category: School of Art & Design

Siddharth Varma shares with us his inspiration behind his book, a sweet tale exploring the importance of honesty, friendship, and self-expression.

Siddharth Varma's illustration in Momo's Colourful Adventure

Momo’s Colourful Adventure is about a lovable panda seeking to make his seemingly black and white life a more colourful one. The book was a result of Siddharth’s Masters project during his MA Illustration course at NTU.

The excited student told us: “I never thought that the world was going to appreciate my work one day, much less this soon!”

Originally from India, Siddharth embarked on his own adventure to Nottingham Trent University (NTU) after being granted an international scholarship. He’s the first in his family to study abroad, and has had a whirlwind time in the UK.

Siddharth pictured with his work

“I enjoyed everything during my time in Nottingham – from making friends around the world, building lifelong networks, and experiencing different cultures, to gaining work experience, using the best facilities, and being taught by great staff.

“I was inspired by one of my lecturers, Dr Sarah McConnell’s great work in the industry, and I never thought that I might one day learn from her. It was like a dream come true for me.”

Momo’s Colourful Adventure will China-based publisher Yangbaifen. Following his success, Siddharth has secured a role as a Junior Art Director for Joytime Films in Hangzhou, China.