Louise Lockhart
A Childhood Bound to Magic
Louise Lockhart’s relationship with Harry Potter is as personal as it is professional. When the first book was released, she was just eleven years old—the same age as Harry when he received his letter to Hogwarts. Growing up alongside the characters, Louise found the series deeply formative. She and her best friend Charlotte would read the books together, alternating chapters and trying their best not to get ahead of one another when apart. That early bond with J.K. Rowling’s world would later become the foundation for a truly special artistic contribution.
From Passion to Profession
Louise Lockhart is a UK-based illustrator and printmaker, trained at the Glasgow School of Art. From a young age, she was always drawing and creating picture books, her talent evolving naturally into a professional career. Her illustrative style is deeply inspired by vintage print ephemera and mid-century children's books. Artists like Roger Duvoisin and Nathalie Parain, who often worked with limited color palettes and bold design, have been pivotal to shaping her visual language.
Louise now works independently, developing a portfolio filled with bold, colorful, and nostalgic imagery. When the opportunity to contribute to The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac arose, she had just given birth and initially declined—but quickly reversed course. As she put it, turning down the offer would have crushed her childhood dream.
A New Lens on the Wizarding World
The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac is a comprehensive and richly illustrated celebration of the magical universe. Louise was one of seven illustrators selected to bring the world to life in vivid, layered spreads. For someone with such a deep personal connection to the material, the opportunity to visually reinterpret this universe was a joy and an enormous responsibility.
Her work includes vibrant depictions of magical clothing, sweets, books, household pests, and more. Every spread is filled with detail and whimsy. Yet despite her familiarity with the source material, Louise found herself under pressure. When illustrating Harry himself, she was so caught up in the moment that she forgot to include his glasses—a mistake thankfully caught by editors.
A Curious Collection of Clothing
One of the most celebrated illustrations from the Almanac is Louise’s Curious Collection of Clothing. This visual exploration showcases memorable outfits from across the series: Molly Weasley’s iconic jumpers, Dobby’s mismatched socks, and Hagrid’s infamous hairy brown suit for formal occasions. Some outfits, like Professor Trelawney’s or Umbridge’s, came easily thanks to Rowling’s vivid descriptions. Others, such as Hermione’s Yule Ball dress, were trickier due to the strong visual associations many fans have from the film adaptations.
Initially, Louise aimed to complete the clothing spread using only three colors to stay true to her signature vintage style. However, she soon realized that some items—like Ron’s maroon jumper—needed their authentic hues. Her creative flexibility and fidelity to the spirit of the text shine through in every choice she made.
Sweet Nostalgia
Of all the illustrations she created, the spread dedicated to magical sweets and treats stands out as her favorite. Drawing the trolley treats from the Hogwarts Express—like Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, and Pumpkin Pasties—fulfilled a childhood dream. “The sweets, 100%,” she said. “It has probably scratched the itch of my entire childhood dreams.”
This visual feast sits alongside her contributions to other areas of the Almanac, such as the Hogwarts library and pages on magical creatures, but the candy-colored celebration of magical snacks holds a special place in her heart.
Magic in the Mundane
Illustrating the wizarding world came naturally to Louise. It was a place she already knew intimately. But she found that the challenge lay in making seemingly mundane elements feel magical. Even drawing something as ordinary as the Hogwarts Express trolley required a deep dive into imaginative reinterpretation.
Her approach balanced nostalgia with fresh perspective. She tried to recall how she imagined these scenes as a child, before the films defined them. This effort to separate her illustrations from existing visuals allowed Louise to reconnect with her original sense of wonder—a feeling she aims to pass on to readers.
Global Magic: Bringing the Art to the World
One of the more surreal experiences for Louise was seeing her illustrations adapted for international audiences. The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac was translated into over 40 languages. Her original hand lettering was transformed into editable fonts so the magic could reach readers around the world. The book’s global publication added another layer of significance to a project already close to her heart.
A Hufflepuff at Heart
Louise proudly identifies as a Hufflepuff, a house known for loyalty, creativity, and kindness. It’s a fitting alignment for an illustrator whose work radiates charm, warmth, and reverence for storytelling. Her contributions to The Wizarding Almanac aren’t just beautiful illustrations—they are love letters to a world she grew up in, and now gets to help shape for new generations.