Blodeuwedd of the Mabinogion.
All the drama, ferocity, beauty, and nuance of UK folklore come to life in Myths and Legends, a new set of commemorative stamps issued by the Royal Mail, featuring artwork by London-based illustrator Adam Simpson.
Next time you send a letter in Britain, why not have it spirited to the recipient by one of the fascinating heroes, monsters or spirits of British and Irish folklore? From Selkies to Beowulf to Finn McCool or Blodeuwedd, eight of the most enchanting characters and creatures from our ancient stories appear in Myths and Legends, the latest set of special edition stamps released by the Royal Mail.
Each stamp has been illustrated in evocative detail by Adam Simpson, who spent more than a year developing the composition, storytelling, and all-important atmosphere until the imagery was just right. It has been a labour of love for the artist.
“I bought a sketchbook for each stamp, and then throughout the project, I filled each one with ideas, drawings, and notes as I researched the myths and their locations. I sketched out a lot of very loose ideas, chose my preferred options, then tightened them before sharing with the designer Jason Godfrey and the team at the Royal Mail,” explains Adam.
When illustrating a stamp, the canvas is always small. Nevertheless, the imagery is rich in detail and colour, capturing each narrative along with its magic and mystery. Cornish piskies frolic with a sense of mischief and abandon, the Grindylow water sprite of Northern England emerges hungry and malicious. At the same time, a Selkie gracefully slips from the waves and sheds her sealskin alter ego.
The most beautiful stamp in the collection features a Welsh maiden made by magic from broom, meadowsweet and oak flowers. “I love the story of Blodeuwedd the most,” says Adam. “I wanted to try to represent the magic within it. But having worked on each stamp from late 2023 to the beginning of this year, I feel close to all of them.”
Beowulf and Grendel presented the greatest challenges. “I think there’s a lot to get across in the Beowulf scene,” says Adam. “The fight, the difference in scale, the mead hall and so on. And I wanted to give a sense that Beowulf is about to tear Grendel’s arm off without it being too gory!”
Adam followed a flexible, creative process, using both natural and digital media. The imagery began as drawings and painted studies in Adam’s sketchbooks. When he’d resolved a route for each artwork, it was scanned and further edited with digital tools. Works in progress were submitted to the Royal Mail Stamp Advisory Committee, which met at regular intervals to provide feedback. With each round, Adam refined his paintings until they were ready for print.
The release of Myths and Legends has coincided with an uptick in the popularity of folklore and folk horror in books, cinema and on television – for example, actor Charlie Cooper’s series Myth Country. “It’s funny because I remember I was just finishing the Black Shuck artwork when I saw the first episode of Myth Country was Black Shuck! I loved it,” says Adam. “I was aware there’s a lot of interest in folklore – and rightly so, as I think it’s important to keep these traditions alive and understand their historical and regional importance. I’ve felt privileged to be asked to respond to them.”
Away with the pixies.
Grindylow inhabits the streams of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Ireland’s warrior-seer Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Black Shuck of East Anglian folklore.
The Selkie of Scottish Celtic lore.
It wouldn’t have been complete without Nessie.
Other stamps in the series feature the Loch Ness Monster and Fionn mac Cumhaill, the Irish hero seen hurling a rock formation from the Giant’s Causeway at an enemy across the sea in Scotland.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been fantastic,” continues Adam. It has become apparent to me how much regional pride there is in these stories. And I think it’s brilliant that a humble stamp can unlock this.”
Since painting the stamps, Adam has continued working in the field of myths and legends. He has recently finished a project involving Norse mythology and has been illustrating the tales of the Brothers Grimm.