Bradford, UK. March 24th, 2026 – A UK couple have created a new series of colouring books inspired by towns across Britain, following the loss of their daughter, Freya.
Stephen, 38, a warehouse worker, and his partner Melissa, 22, began working on the project in the weeks after her funeral, as a way to cope with the quiet moments that followed.
Freya, described by her parents as strong, determined and “incredibly amazing”, left a lasting impression on everyone who met her. Known for her beautiful hair and infectious personality, she brought joy to those around her despite the challenges she faced.
“She just kept going,” Stephen says. “She was always pushing herself to get better and do things people didn’t think she’d be able to do. She made us so proud.”
In the months before her passing, the family were supported by Martin House Children’s Hospice, where they were able to stay together and learn how to care for Freya at home.
“The biggest thing they did for us was teach us how to look after her,” Stephen explains. “We stayed there before bringing her home from the hospital, and it gave us the confidence to care for her ourselves. They were always there when we needed support.”
After her passing, the evenings and weekends became the hardest.
“That’s when it really hits you,” he says. “When everything slows down.”
Trying to find something to focus on, Stephen explored different ways to stay occupied, from gaming to the gym, before the idea for Britain in Lines began to take shape.
The concept was simple: a series of colouring books based on real towns and places across the UK, designed to offer a calm, mindful activity.
“I was looking for something different,” he says. “A lot of colouring books are patterns or cartoon-style drawings. I wanted something where you could feel like you’re colouring your own town or somewhere meaningful to you.”
What started as a small side project quickly became something more, as the first illustrated pages began to come back from freelance artists.
“That’s when it felt real. I could picture people sitting down for 20–30 minutes, just relaxing and colouring one of the pages.”
For Melissa, who had spent so much of her time caring for Freya, finding something to focus on again was just as important.
“Melissa isn’t quite ready to return to work yet,” Stephen says. “She lost her role as a mum, which is something no one should ever have to go through. Colouring has helped her take some time for herself and begin to look forward again.”
Now, Britain in Lines has become more than just a creative project.
“It gives us something to build, something positive,” Stephen says. “And it gives people a chance to take a bit of time for themselves too.”
As part of the project, the couple have committed to donating 10% from every book sold to Martin House in Freya’s memory.
“She made so many people happy in her life,” he says. “This is a way for her to continue helping others, even now.”
The books feature clean, architectural illustrations of real UK locations, including towns such as Harrogate, Scarborough, Falmouth and Buxton, designed to create a sense of calm and focus.
“We just hope people enjoy them,” Stephen adds. “That they get a bit of peace, even if it’s just for a few minutes.”
Looking ahead, the couple hope to expand the range to include more towns and even charity-focused editions, where all profits would go directly to organisations like Martin House.
For now, the motivation remains simple. “We’ll keep building this, for her.”
ENDS