With the exception of newspaper cartoonists, it’s becoming increasingly rare to see a truly hand-drawn black-and-white illustration on paper. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing the work of many of my favourite handcrafted illustrators, some no longer with us, others still quietly working away, unplugged, with nothing more than a pen, black ink and a sheet of paper. In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital shortcuts, this simple act of drawing feels more precious than ever. It’s something every child should be encouraged to do. Drawing is a universal form of communication, a way of thinking through the hand, and an extraordinary lifelong asset.