BaaBaa Blackshaw

Middle Grade Writer & Illustrator

Hi, I’m Mary Blackshaw, the writer and illustrator behind Baa Baa Blackshaw.

I create middle grade (9-12) fiction and art rooted in hidden history, finding the extraordinary wonder in the mundane and the secrets tucked away in museum corners. I am a firm believer in the messy magic of ink on paper. Currently based in North Oxfordshire, I have just finished my debut novel and am now working on another one!

WRITING

The Puppy, the Witch, & the Vanishing Black

To save their puppy from a huge spectral hound, twelve-year-old grieving fraternal twins Jo and Charlie must befriend a motley group of churchyard ghosts, face forgotten folklore, and journey into the afterlife itself.

ART

From raw minerals ground by hand to the fine lines of an ink pen, the portfolio showcases the intersection of natural materials and narrative art.

part of a traditionally made icon of a white spotted sable moth in black and white with a green background surrounded by plants and with a gold halo

handmade soot ink example. close up of elevated inky brown lines

sepia ink and watercolour colourful bugs, beetles and insects in an inky style

VIEW PORTFOLIO

"Mary Blackshaw is a writer and illustrator whose stories explore the hidden ingenuity of childhood. Drawing on eighteen years of experience as a primary school and specialist advisory teacher, she writes for the resilient, the inventive, and all those children who navigate the world with more wit and imagination than the adults around them. Mary’s heroes aren’t ‘chosen ones’ or heirs to privilege; they are the children who have forged their own paths out of necessity and grit. Whether unravelling a high-stakes heist in the heart of London or weaving thoughtful stories with ink and folklore, Mary’s work is rooted in a love for hidden history and a search for wonder in the mundane. Often found scouting museums for secrets, she creates worlds where the children are always the smartest people in the room because that's usually true."

Get in touch

mary@baabaablackshaw.com

or join me on Instagram:

"Mary’s style and attention to detail really stood out to us. She provided an excellent workshop for refugees and asylum seekers, helping them produce meaningful art through her expert guidance. Her sculpture prompted stories and discussion across generations—the greatest feedback came from one participant who said: ‘Because of the horse, I feel I have made my mark.’"

- Kathryn Spence, Community Curator, North Lincolnshire Museum

"Her work is beautiful, thought provoking, and executed in a very conscientious and professional manner. It has been a pleasure to work with Mary."

-Deborah Balchin, Art Programme Lead at Sobell House Hospice Charity

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