Finding Joy

'A dad's account of heartbreak and hope' Daily Mail

In 2017, illustrator and animator Gary Andrews suddenly lost his wife, Joy, to sepsis, leaving him a widower and single father to two young children.

As a way of coping, Gary posted a doodle a day on Twitter, illustrating the ups and downs of family life after Joy's death. His drawings, which depict his and his children's pain, love and humour with an extraordinary honesty, have since resonated with people all over the world and have been shared tens of thousands of times online.

FINDING JOY brings together old and new drawings to tell Gary's story. The result is an astonishingly movingly, often funny and ultimately life affirming book that will help anyone on a grief journey of their own.

“If ever there was something created from the heart, this is it. A remarkable book that charts the journey of grief with warmth, compassion and humour. For those of us who have experienced loss, it offers comfort and hope. Despite the story of loss, there is so much joy in these pages”

A delightful and poignant rollercoaster, just like grief itself. I'm so glad he has shared Joy's story with us

If ever there was something created from the heart, this is it. A remarkable book that charts the journey of grief with warmth, compassion and humour. For those of us who have experienced loss, it offers comfort and hope. Despite the story of loss, there is so much joy in these pages

Sad but uplifting, beautiful and absolutely brilliant

Born in 1961, Gary graduated from Exeter College of Art & Design in 1983 at which point he fell into a career in animation. Over the years he worked on many commercials and pop promos, had a spell at Disney, animated several Beatrix Potter characters as well as Toad from The Wind in the Willows. He has directed Fireman Sam and Horrid Henry and is also a prolific illustrator, often be seen in the pages of Private Eye, where he has been illustrating the 'Sylvie Krin' stories for over 30 years.

'A dad's account of heartbreak and hope' Daily Mail In 2017, illustrator and animator Gary Andrews suddenly lost his wife, Joy, to sepsis, leaving him a widower and single father to two young children.As a way of coping, Gary posted a doodle a day on Twitter, illustrating the ups and downs of family life after Joy's death. His drawings, which depict his and his children's pain, love and humour with an extraordinary honesty, have since resonated with people all over the world and have been shared tens of thousands of times online. FINDING JOY brings together old and new drawings to tell Gary's story. The result is an astonishingly movingly, often funny and ultimately life affirming book that will help anyone on a grief journey of their own.

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