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A couple of weeks back, I finished playing The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, a moody folk horror point-and-click adventure set in a strange, mist-covered northern village. I loved it. The atmosphere, the voice work, the story... So, as I usually do when something sticks with me, I picked up my graphics tablet and did a quick painting, a sort of send-off for Thomasina Bateman and the eerie town of Bewlay.
Was just for fun really one of those things you make because you feel like you have to, the story leaves a mark, and you need to respond in some way.
A little while later, Shaun Aitcheson, the creator of the game, came across the piece and asked if he could get a print. I sent one over, and now it’s up on his wall! Seeing photos of my work in other people’s spaces always means a lot, but this one felt a bit extra special. There’s something surreal and brilliant about making a piece inspired by someone’s creation, and then having that person want it hanging in their home.
Folk horror’s been a big part of my current project, and Hob’s Barrow really hit that sweet spot, northern British folklore, bleak moorland, strange rituals, and that slow, creeping dread that I love. It’s kicked off loads of new ideas in my own work too, especially around the concept of the "moor folk" I’ve been sketching out lately. I thought they were such an interesting thread / characters in the game.
If you haven’t played it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s a proper gem, indie in the best sense, lovingly crafted, and dripping with atmosphere. And if you’re into folk horror, it’ll absolutely feed that craving.