I wanted to make a difference with my work and the postcard project seemed perfect way to start. It’s not about changing the world, it’s simply about making somebody’s world feel a little less lonely. That’s the whole concept right there. Just one postcard at a time…

Hugo began life as a elephant. I wasn’t keen on her. She just looked hacked off with life and although technically she was a good illustration, she just looked miserable. I knew I wanted something that would make people smile when it was pushed through the letterbox and this just didn’t hit the spot.

The elephant softened with a few more pencil lines and transformed into a hippo. She was smiley but I wasn’t convinced she was fluffy enough and so the fur was added and the hippo became a brown bear! To be honest, a lot of my work transforms like this on the page. The final touch was the nose and although still bear-like, it just screamed PANDA and so Hugo was born.

His name came from an online request. There was a huge response and Hugo was actually suggested by three different people and was perfect.

Once named, Hugo pulled on a rainbow sweater and appeared on the postcard as a “hug” – and now they’re making their way all over the country (and the world) sending perfect little hugs to those we can’t physically hug due to distance and, more significantly, this pandemic.

You too can get your hands on a “hugs” postcard via the shop http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/friedandy