Preston illustrator designs official artwork ahead of Bookshop Day 2026
The clock is ticking ahead of Bookshop Day 2026 - and a Preston illustrator is playing a key artistic role.
Preston illustrator, author, and creator of Murphy’s 39 sketches, Kerri Cunningham, has designed official campaign artwork ahead of Bookshop Day 2026.
And authors Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, Brigid Lowe, Marvin Thompson, Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre have been announced as ambassadors ahead of the flagship celebration, which takes place on Saturday October 10.
The event, part of a year-long calendar of events, championing the unique role bookshops of all shapes and sizes play at the heart of communities and culture.
Bookshop Day celebrates the expertise, passion and vibrancy that make bookshops irreplaceable. More than places to buy books, bookshops champion reading for pleasure, inspire new and lifelong readers, support schools and host events with both emerging local talent and household literary names. They are cultural heartlands and trusted businesses that enrich villages, towns and cities across the UK
This year’s ambassador line-up brings together some of the most exciting voices in contemporary publishing. British Bengali novelist Tasneem Abdur-Rashid is celebrated for her warm, insightful fiction exploring family, identity, and modern relationships, While Welsh author Brigid Lowe, now based in Scotland, will be celebrating the publication of her new book, Shiver: The Lessons of the Lochs, following the success of her acclaimed debut novel, The Bloody Branch.
Award-winning poet Marvin Thompson is one of the UK’s leading contemporary poets. Born in London to Jamaican parents and now living in Wales, he is the author of the celebrated collections Road Trip and Rooms. Joining them are bestselling children’s book creators Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.
Exclusive artwork has become one of the defining features of Bookshop Day. This year’s sought-after Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Tote has been designed by acclaimed illustrator, author and textile designer Jane Foster, whose bold, mid-century-inspired style has delighted readers and design lovers for more than a decade.
Complementing the tote, the official Bookshop Day 2026 campaign artwork has been created by Preston illustrator, Sunday Times bestselling author, and Murphy’s Sketches creator Kerri Cunningham. Beloved by her more than 800,000 social media followers for her colourful, uplifting illustrations celebrating books, reading, and everyday life, Kerri brings her distinctive warmth and energy to this year’s campaign.
Tasneem Abdur-Rashid said: “Bookshops are inclusive spaces where discovery, community and imagination come together to create magic. As a reader, I’ve spent countless hours losing myself in bookshops while choosing new worlds to explore, and as an author, I know how crucial they are in helping readers discover our work. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a Bookshop Day 2026 ambassador and celebrate the vital role bookshops play in our lives and communities.”
Marvin Thompson said: “I am thrilled to be chosen as the 2026 Bookshop Ambassador. Bookshops hold a special place in my memory. As a north London child, the local neighbourhood of Crouch End seemed like a magical place: it was home to two bookstores! Palmers Green, where I lived in my twenties, felt equally enchanting for hosting a pair of bookstores, both of which I worked in. In a world of AI and automation, bookshops offer us serenity, human interaction and the joy of reading!
Brigid Lowe said: “In the blur of speed and scale - in a world too virtual and too loud - bookshops are a life-raft of calm, community and careful curation. They are not just places to buy and sell, but spaces where friendship is forged around the quiet thrill of discovering new ways to see the world.
“Booksellers are skilled and passionate imaginative matchmakers, connecting writers with their audience and readers with stories they never knew they needed. Meeting them, meeting readers found just for me - these have been highlights of my own author journey. It’s a privilege to support this campaign as an ambassador at a time when bookshops point the way to our best future.”