Meet Bethany: The 15-year-old student whose portrait of a school storyteller led to a published book illustration career and helped her build confidence despite situational mutism

A 15-year-old student from Cambridgeshire has become a published book illustrator after a portrait she drew during a school storytelling session caught an author's attention. Bethany, who experiences situational mutism, was sketching Chip Colquhoun to help her concentrate when he noticed her artwork and later invited her to illustrate his children's book. As reported by the BBC, the experience has helped her build confidence, attend book launches and take part in radio interviews, although she continues to need support in unfamiliar situations. Bethany is now working on illustrations for another book while balancing her creative projects with schoolwork.How a school portrait helped Bethany become a published book illustratorThe opportunity began when storyteller and author Chip Colquhoun visited Bethany's school to lead a storytelling session. Sitting among the audience, Bethany started drawing a portrait of him. She was using the activity to help herself concentrate, rather than setting out to attract the attention of the visitor.Colquhoun noticed the finished drawing and was impressed enough to approach her about illustrating one of his books. Bethany's portrait later appeared in a book offering educators advice on using storytelling as a teaching tool. The encounter also led to a larger commission: illustrating The Bestest Story in the World Ever!, which was published in September 2026.For Bethany, seeing her work reproduced in a book was an unfamiliar experience. Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Louise Hulland, she described the feeling as ‘really weird and surreal’.She also looked back at the portrait that had started the process with a degree of distance. Her style has changed since then, she explained, and she considers the drawing different from the way she works now. Even so, she felt it was a good effort for the level of skill she had at the time. Colquhoun said the portrait had caught his attention from the outset."Drawing at that point helped me focus, so I needed something to draw and he was right there”, Bethany said.Daily challenges Bethany faces with situational mutismBethany's growing experience as an illustrator has taken place alongside the difficulties she faces with communication.She explained that she can speak to some people but may be unable to talk to others, particularly when she does not know them or feels uncomfortable around them.Her mother, Fiona, said Bethany developed language normally as a child. The difficulty is not a lack of language ability, but the circumstances in which she can use it. "It comes from a place of severe anxiety which almost paralyses her and she is unable to talk.”Situational mutism, also known as selective mutism, is associated with severe anxiety that can prevent a person from speaking in particular settings.Fiona described how the condition can leave her daughter unable to respond verbally even when she knows what she wants to say. "When she is in familiar surroundings or with familiar and trusted people she is able to use her language skills - but not always."The effects extend beyond individual conversations. According to Fiona, Bethany is still unable to go out on her own beyond the home or school. Everyday activities that other teenagers might manage independently can therefore require support.Bethany gains confidence through her book illustration workBethany said, "If I was here a few years ago, I wouldn't be doing this because I would be too nervous and I would be too stressed." She has found herself doing things that she would previously have avoided because of the anxiety involved.Her progress has not meant that the difficulties have disappeared, but she has been able to approach some of these experiences with help from people around her. As reported by the BBC, Fiona said her daughter had attended two book launches and been interviewed by two radio stations. These were significant changes for a teenager who continues to need support when facing situations outside her usual surroundings.Bethany's work has also attracted praise from other illustrators, according to Colquhoun. The recognition has come through her drawings, giving her a way to share her abilities even when speaking remains difficult.Fiona said the important difference was that Bethany now had opportunities to feel proud of what she had achieved. Her daughter still could not manage these events independently, she explained, but she had wanted to try them when given support.More illustrations alongside schoolworkBethany has continued to develop her portfolio since completing the illustrations for The Bestest Story in the World Ever!. She is now working on a third book and has three drawings to complete for another project. She told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that she usually draws at around 8pm or 9pm. That routine allows her to keep up with her studies while making progress on the projects she has taken on. She continues to live with the challenges of situational mutism, but illustration has become a way for her to take part in projects beyond the classroom and share her work with a wider audience.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.