A North East author and illustrator has been delighted after being featured on the BBC.
Kylie Dixon, a children's book author and illustrator from Seaham, has been inundated with messages since illustrations from her book series The Magical World of Mushroom Marvellous featured on the BBC cooking show Great British Menu.
Artwork from Kylie's book - Inkcap & The Blight of The Bonnets - served as inspiration for one of the dishes created. Cooked by Michelin-star Northumberland chef Cal Byerley, the delicious dish won round judges and fellow competitors alike.
The episode, dedicated to the celebrations of England's illustrators and authors, saw whimsical fine dining straight out of the storybooks. Dishes were cooked up by some of the North East and Yorkshire's most accoladed professional chefs.
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Kylie was over the moon to find out that her books would be featured on the show.
She said: "I got a call from the BBC completely out of the blue, telling me that someone has used one of my books as inspiration on their show.
"I gave them permission to use anything they wanted from my books, but was told the episode wouldn't air til spring, so was as surprised as everyone else when my drawings popped up on Tuesday night."
After being made redundant before the pandemic, Kylie had felt a little lost about what her next steps would be. Having always had a creative streak, she felt that her next chapter should be "something to do with [her] artwork".
Inspiration hit when walking through a forest in Seaham. Kylie came across a clearing filled with hundreds of mushrooms.
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Kylie explained: "It was just unbelievable, and I knew that I had to do something with it.
"When lockdown hit, I knew a lot of families would struggle, so I started to do online art tutorials. Eventually, people started to tell me that I should write a children's book."
Kylie developed a set of loveable mushroom characters based on what she had seen in Seaham forest, and set her storybook in her dad's allotment.
The book, which Kylie wrote, illustrated and produced, was a sell-out success, with the first print run flying off of the shelves.
Kylie said: "I feel so honoured - little old me from Seaham has been able to achieve all of this - and now I've been on the BBC!"
Kylie spent 18 years of her working life in a bank. She knows more than most that sacrificing who you are can have damaging effects.
She explained: "I never felt like I belonged when I worked in the bank. I was always trying to hide part of myself. I was always hiding my accent, and where I'm from.
"But who I am is who I am. I'm just a normal, northern lass from down the road. I don't hide that now. I try to teach kids to just be themselves!"
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A proud northerner, Kylie has dedicated herself to supporting other local authors and northern businesswomen.
As well as her creative work, Kylie has founded an organisation called 'The Northern Lass Lounge'. After experiencing anxiety and overwhelm keeping on top of her business, Kylie decided to bring together northern businesswomen to create a support system for those going through similar experiences.
Kylie also keeps busy by visiting schools in the area to talk to kids about her books, and her inspirational career journey, helping kids to engage their creative side and realise their full potential.
Kylie's third book, Inkcap and the Agaric Circle is available for preorder now, and will be released on April 16 - the national 'day of the mushroom'.
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