The Jolly Grogsters are a folk and sea-shanty band I met wandering through Bristol. And “Mingulay” is one of the most beloved sea shanties of the old British sailing tradition — a song about fishermen returning home to the isle of Mingulay, where their families and wives wait on the shore. It carries that bittersweet pull of the sea: longing, distance, and the hope of coming home.
I had the pleasure to illustrate their version of Mingulay and to have been awarded with a Silver Medal in the Design category of Annual2026 a prestigious catalog of the best illustrators of the year.
This award is especially dedicated to my friends The Jolly Grogsters and the crazy time i’ve spent with them in Bristol.
It’s amazing when musicians and illustrators come together to keep a fading culture alive.
Raise your grog high!
