Hello, I’m Maria – the creator behind The Inky Badger UK.

The ideas behind my work come from the wildlife that shares our garden. Badgers appearing at dusk, foxes moving quietly through the night, hedgehogs, mice and birds by day, all inspire the characters, moods and small stories behind my designs.

Each piece begins with my own concepts and observations, shaped by these everyday encounters with nature. I use AI as part of my creative process to explore styles, textures and compositions. AI acts as a design tool, while all creative direction, choices and final outcomes are guided by me.

The illustrations are created for children, and also for the inner child many of us still carry with us. They’re meant to feel gentle, playful and comforting — small moments of curiosity and imagination, inspired by the quiet magic of garden wildlife.

The Inky Badger UK was created as a way to celebrate British wildlife through warm, characterful designs, and to encourage a sense of wonder for nature at any age.

Thank you for supporting independent creative work and for welcoming a little bit of garden wildlife into your home.

— Maria
The Inky Badger UK

I also run another long-established Etsy shop, Confites UK, where I create personalised party favours and celebration products.