Artist Highlight Morgana Weeks - Wabi-Sabi Creations

Written By Holly Emmett
Morgana Weeks Illustrator Wabi-Sabi Creations

Hailing from Dartmoor, Devon, Morgana Weeks is the artist behind Wabi-Sabi Creations. Heavily influenced by folklore, myths, and legends, her work is mostly commission-based, focused around books and publications surrounding the themes of folklore, fantasy, and the old pagan practices and history of the British Isles. Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Morgana speaks openly about how her artwork and creative projects have become integral for her mental well-being.

Northern Folklore Archive had the honour of sitting down with Morgana to chat about her work, folklore influences, how accessibly the folk community is and being inspired by local history.

Northern Folklore Archive: Are there any moments, or stories, from your childhood that sparked your love for folklore? Has this influenced your artwork?

Morgana: Oh so many! My mother has always been keen on keeping us connected to the old ways, this would include lots of walks out in nature while she told us stories about hidden dragons, fae folk, tree spirits and all manner of creatures.

This often included folktales and superstitions that kept us curious. I have always had a love for wild spaces and the magic they seemed to contain. The glimmer of light on dew covered moss, the wind howling like wailing spirits through the winter trees. Those special encounters with wildlife that feel so sacred. I would say those early years are the foundations for the art I make today.

My work today is very much influenced by the slightly darker and more ancient feeling aspects of folklore. Elemental beings, ancient forgotten gods and spirits that seem to have such deep meaning it has made them sacred. I have also been heavily inspired by folklore from all over the world, which drive me to begin writing my comic series Yokai: Flames of Hope (along with some prequels!) These webcomics explore my love of Japanese folklore as well as a few snippets from other areas of the world!

Wabi-Sabi Creative's artwork

It's amazing to see so many folk creatives speak so honestly about health and wellbeing. Do you feel that speaking about disabilities and the obstacles this can present has brought you closer to the folk community? Do you find the folk community to be an accessible and welcoming place?

I definitely feel like my personal experience with my disability has certainly opened up so many doors for me in ways I didn’t expect. There are days where I can barely move, and my greatest comfort is settling down with a pot of tea and a pile of folklore books to lose myself in, often armed with a sketchbook to hand to scribble down what interests me and inspires me.

I feel a lot can be learnt from folklore and how disability has formed it’s landscape. From the grotesque “changelings” who were likely those suffering from certain diseases, to moon madness, not to mention the folk traditions of herbal medicines, which are often positively flooded with related folktales to caution the right use of plants.

I have found the folk world to be quite welcoming when it comes to my disability, it’s mostly hidden so not as apparent as other ones perhaps, but I find almost everyone I have met has been respectful and incredibly supportive and kind.

Your work for Dark Cornwall is so beautiful. Do you feel that your work, especially The Dark Cornwall Dark Folklore map, has brought you closer to the folklore and history of your local areas?

It certainly has! That map was a giant task (pun intended!) but a wonderful one.

Although I have spent a great deal of time in Cornwall, I had no idea just HOW MUCH folklore was nestled into every nook and cranny, and creating the map gave me a golden opportunity to explore them. So when you look at that map, you’re right there, exploring these tales with me as I studied them.

I hope the map will continue to inspire and give that same sense of wonder to others for many years to come. It has given me the chance to spend time with so many wonderful folklore lovers, it has even given me a lovely obsession with the wonderful Cornish OSS!

I’ve had the greatest pleasure of socialising with a few of these incredible cryptids now and they always bring me such joy!

Congratulations on being a part of the success of The Dark Folklore Festival, it looked like such an amazing meet-up for the folk community. Do you have any plans for events in 2026?

Oh what a festival it was! And there are plans for another which I am very excited about.

As for events in 2026, I have a few things in the works! I have recently started up the Campfire Collective, which is a collaborative space for creatives from all over to come together and support one another and create together in a safe environment. I hope to grow this enough to be able to host some wonderful in person events in the future, early days yet though.

I also will also be attending a lot more artisan markets and folklore festivals, both just to enjoy for myself and to also let dear Awel (my Morgawr pup puppet!) explore this wonderful world of folklore and help explore it! I hope to feature him a lot more this coming year!

I would love to do more collaborative work with other folklore organisations this year and nestle myself ever deeper into the wonderful world of Folk and all that entails!

Lastly (and I'm asking this to everyone) one of the Northern Folklore Duo is a huge film fan, so this question is purely for him... what is your favourite film?!

Oh that’s a tough question! But it has to be the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!!

We loved chatting to Morgana, her artwork really does transport you to another world. If you like Wabi-Sabi Creation’s work, do follow her over on Instagram @wabisabicreationsuk and take a look at her website Wabi-sabi creations uk.

 

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Holly Emmett
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