Welcome to the World of Elsewhere
Paul set up his first studio with Penny, in Sheringham, Norfolk in 1977. He drew a map of a world that didn't yet exist and called it Elsewhere. However, being dyslexic he found it impossible to write that worlds stories, but he could see it very clearly in his imagination, so for the next 18 years, inspired by the map of Elsewhere and that imagination, he made very fine Porcelain sculptures and painted faerie tale illustrations. These were sold to collectors from across the UK, Europe and America.
In 1989, with their first child, Araminta being born, Paul created a range of Designs based on two Edwardian Teddy Bears he had. With his wife they set up a Licensing company called Oscar and Bertie, and over the next six years Paul drew over 90 illustrations that were destined to become a distinctive range of images for the gift market in the Uk, America, Asia and Australia. The products created included: Cut outs of the Teddy bears, designs on a large range of shaped tins, Collectable plates, wallpapers and fabrics and a range Gift items for the market in Japan,
During 1992, the collectors of Paul's ceramics asked him to tell the stories of his fantasy world of Elsewhere. An ideal skill to have if you have children. In 1995, with his second child, Fabian born, Paul had a ready made audience at home with his growing family and their friends. So, one evening in March 1993 Paul told 3 of his own stories and this became the beginning of a 30 year career as an Oral storyteller telling stories in many different locations: from schools to museums, from fairs, to festivals; to children and adults alike. He told stories from many cultures. Particularly First Nations of America. He was also fascinated by Russian and European Wonder Tales and British Folk tales. Over that time period he told over 55,000 stories and traveled far and wide to tell them, including a tour of China in 2018.
In 2012, Paul's second wife, Clare, found the Map of Elsewhere and asked the vital Question about the Stories of Elsewhere ~'why haven't you written the stories yet?' she asked. Clare then suggested that after all his experience of telling stories perhaps he could get over the dyslexia now and write his own stories.
Between 2012-2016 Paul wrote a 400,000 fantastical 'book': a rough epic.
With the help of Tom Flood of Flood manuscripts in Australia, this 'rough epic' became three books. Each a stand alone book, but also each part of a much larger story arc: A first Trilogy of Elsewhere.
There are to be Nine books: Three Trilogies. The first Book, The Hidden Destiny, was published on the 22nd of October 2023. It is now for sale. It contains 40 pages of histories of those countries that make up the 33 Realms of Elsewhere. Also there are 12 illustrations and a full colour map, which was developed from that first one drawn Forty six years ago. Paul has had a huge amount of support from both family and close friends over the past year as the first book when through its development.
Elsewhere Team
There is now a lovely community of friends and family helping to put The Elsewhere World out there-
Suzanne Arnold as amazing mentor and Beta Reader; Sandra Arrowsmith as a rigorous Copy editor, and Fabian has just joined the Team to create and run Social Media output on TikTok and other platforms. Clare has always been there with the overview, always willing and able to give sound advice as the project moves forward.
To help with the sharing of the development of Elsewhere as a fantastical Adventure Paul has set up a Membership Site over on the platform: Patreon. If you are interested to know more, there is a link at the bottom of this page. The Patreon Membership will be launched on the 29th of October along with the launch of The Hidden Destiny.
Members will be able to see new stories as they are being written from the Nine books. (paul is actually writing book five at the moment) There will be live chat and podcasts to download of all manner of Elsewhaerian things such as new drawings, paintings of characters as they join the stories, regular new videos on Elsewhere plus downloadable Audio Tapes read by Paul. Members will get a Bi-monthly Newsletter and reductions on new printed illustrations and first chance opportunity to purchase porcelain sculptures as they are drawn, or sculpted, or just as they come out of the kiln. The site is very, very much intended to build a community around the Realms of Elsewhere and also give an opportunity for people to share their love of the wonders of the Imagination.
Paul's PATREON LINK: Paul Jackson@Elsewhere Studios
