Pansy Boy
Pansy Boy, was written and illustrated by Paul Harfleet in 2017 and published by Barbican Press an independent publisher, run by Martin Goodman. Rhyming couplets tell the story of a boy who revels in the joys of summer, exploring the flora and fauna around him. Reluctantly he returns to school where he is subjected to incessant bullying. Intelligent and bright, he is driven to create a plan to reclaim his school.
Paul wrote Pansy Boy for his seven-year-old self. The book offers children of all ages an alternative vision of childhood, one that transcends stereotype whilst also functioning as an educational resource. It celebrates art, ornithology and horticulture, and provides a gentle framework for discussing bullying and emerging identity.
A creative extension of Paul Harfleet’s wider practice, Pansy Boy connects directly to the work explored across this site, bringing these ideas into a more personal and accessible form. The book concludes with a child-friendly introduction to his work, alongside a ‘field notes’ section illustrating and describing the flora and fauna featured throughout.
You can read a conversation between Martin Goodman and Paul Harfleet for further insight into the making of Pansy Boy, here.
Workshops
Following the publication of Pansy Boy, Paul has delivered artist talks and creative workshops with schools, libraries and community groups across the UK and beyond. Using drawing as a starting point, these sessions explore themes of bullying, creativity and connection to the natural world.
Writing & Performance
Inspired by Pansy Boy, Paul has developed a practice of creative writing, paired with his illustrations. Howl for the Owl was a creative rallying cry to invite participation in Extinction Rebellion’s THE BIG ONE in 2023, the video above was shared on social media to promote the artists participation on the march whilst he was ‘gently referencing’ a snowy owl.
I AM THE SPELL arose from participation in the Remember Nature curatorial project in 2025. This piece was performed with a video backdrop as an illustrated poem at FACT Liverpool as part of the Day of Action. On 28th March 2026 Harfleet performed I AM THE SPELL at Tate Modern alongside many of the other Remember Nature artists.
These works form part of an evolving body of performance and text-based practice, through which Paul continues to explore voice, embodiment and the relationship between language, image and the natural world. While not currently published in book form, they are actively shared through performance, film and live events, and remain open to future development. Paul is open to conversations with publishers and collaborators interested in developing this work further across print and performance contexts. Get in touch here.