Divi & Frey

Rickshaw Driver, Chandigarh Market.

In November 2023, I took a journey through India that changed everything.

India and Nepal were more than just travel destinations—they became living sketchbooks that whispered stories into my hand as I drew. From the vibrant pulse of Chennai to the layered history of Kathmandu, every moment was a collision of colour, culture, and character. I wandered through Kochi’s coastal calm, Ahmedabad’s architectural rhythms, and Hyderabad’s fragrant street markets—each place leaving its mark not just in ink, but in imagination.

This trip wasn’t simply a travel log—it was a catalyst. The people, sights, sounds and tastes of India didn’t just inspire—they helped shape the core concept of Divi and Frey, my long-developed graphic novel series. I watched the adventure unfold in real time on the page. Ideas that had been dormant sparked to life as I sketched street scenes, temple interiors, and chance encounters with locals who shared stories as vibrant as the saris they wore.

Mango Seller, New Dehli.

What started years ago as scattered thoughts in notebooks and storyboard sketches truly began to breathe during my travels through India and Nepal. This trip marked a pivotal shift—from loosely formed ideas to fully realised narrative threads. Immersing myself in the rhythm of daily life across cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Hyderabad, I came to understand something fundamental: to authentically create, you must be immersed.

India didn’t just inspire me—it challenged and elevated my storytelling lens. The kaleidoscope of experiences, from temple rituals to conversations with chai vendors, offered a sensory depth that no textbook or screen could replicate. I realised that ideas grow richer when you give them roots in real places, with real people.

While the first Divi and Frey book is set in Paris and Egypt, and those locations have their own magic, the true starting point for the series—the emotional and creative ignition—was India. It was there, sketchbook in hand, that I saw how travel could transform intention into narrative.

This post features a selection of sketchbook pages that capture the spirit of my travels—snapshots of moments that helped guide Divi and Frey toward its future.

Raven on the fence of the Gate of Idina, Mumbai.

Though I managed to explore much—Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chandigarh, New Delhi—I barely scratched the surface. And so, I’ve planned a return to India in 2027, intent on uncovering the legendary sites I missed the first time around. There’s still so much to draw, to feel, and to learn and a whole new adventure to write.

Stay tuned for a fresh wave of adventure posts in 2026, as I gear up for my next expeditions. Divi and Frey continues to evolve, but the heart of it will always beat with the energy of the journeys that shaped it—starting with Japan, Borneo and India.