Lift off! Norfolk business idea that took shape in lockdown
- Rowan Mantell - Eastern Daily Press
- Mar 20, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 23
Artistic mother and daughter duo Jill Smith and Jennifer Watson first had the idea for their design studio, Dodo and Dinosaur, in 2020 and went on to produce an A-Z book of extinct animals.
Professional palaeontologists praised the accurate, and charming, artwork of An A-Z of Extraordinary Extinct Creatures which introduced young children to 26 weird and wonderful extinct beasts in rhymes and pictures. They went on to create dinosaur-themed children’s clothing and accessories and worked with Norfolk museums, the Norwich Science Festival and the charity trails of T.rex and mammoth sculptures around Norfolk.
Their latest project reveals how 19th century scientists saw dinosaurs. Working with the charity Friends of Crystal Palace Park they focus on dinosaur sculptures created for the 1851 Great Exhibition, which still stand in Crystal Palace Park in London. Their book Extraordinary Extinct Crystal Palace Dinosaurs is published this spring.
Jill (mum,, who had worked as a graphic artist and illustrator) and Jennifer (daughter, who worked in marketing and design) combined their love of art and the natural world in Dodo and Dinosaur. Part of the inspiration came from Jennifer’s son, Artie, who has been fascinated by dinosaurs and all things prehistoric since he was a baby.
“We were grateful to have a focus during the pandemic and we were in the same ‘bubble’ so we could continue to work towards getting our new business off the ground,” said Jennifer. “My little boy was 8 months old at the start of the pandemic and as for many, being cut off from the world, not being able to interact with other children affected him socially, but he is making up for lost time now and really coming out of his shell at nursery!
“I was pregnant with my little girl in the second lockdown and it was a rather worrying time for various reasons, so I was really grateful for Mum's support, whilst my husband Dale, a primary school teacher, continued to work.”
Jill and Jennifer research together and then Jill paints each animal and Jennifer develops the pictures into finished designs to feature in their books and on products including rucksacks, pencil cases, play mats, aprons and tee shirts stocked in visitor attractions, bookshops and museums around Norfolk and further afield.
