40 April 2014 www.womanthismonth.com Professional artist Anna Thackray loves a good story. However, it was Bahrain that unleashed her creative spirit, taking her on an incredible journey that spawned a trilogy of graphic novels. The Awakening of an Artist people | interview by SIMI KAMBOJ Anna Thackray is basking in the success of her graphic novel, The Awakening of Shamal, which was released in February. The Brit, who was trained in fine arts at Southampton University, has lived in many countries and her art is an amalgamation of these cultures. To research her Bahrain-based trilogy, Anna visited forts, viewed exhibits at Bahrain National Museum and photographed Bahrain from north to south. She listened to stories about old Bahrain, whether it was from poets or taxi drivers. An introvert, Anna loves the flexibility that storytelling provides her and the freedom to live many lives all at once. She tells us what went into the making of The Awakening of Shamal.
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