How Batheaston's library has been magically transformed
Alex and Paul of ‘Lucas Antics’, are the talented creatives who designed, painted, and handcrafted a magical space where our children can read, be inspired, and let their imaginations flourish.
In early March, the new library was officially opened at a special event, in front of many of our families, when the school choir sang a reading-related song and Alex and Paul attended in person to see the results of their work. We were also thrilled to welcome popular author Fleur Hitchcock.
Last year, our pupils were asked a simple but powerful set of questions: “What do you want in your library? How do you want it to feel? What inspires you to pick up a book?”
Their answers were wonderful cosy corners, colourful creatures, places to dream, spaces to escape into stories, and walls that felt welcoming, enchanted, and exciting. They wanted a library that didn’t just hold stories but felt like one.
Alex and Paul took every one of those ideas to heart. They listened carefully, sketched thoughtfully, imagined boldly, and brought the children’s wishes to life. The result is a truly enchanting library, crafted with creativity, kindness, and a deep understanding of what sparks a child’s love of reading.
Importantly, our library wasn’t something that appeared overnight, delivered in boxes and installed in a day. At Batheaston Church School, we wanted something bespoke, something that grew, week by week, shaped by the people who would use it and the artists who built it.
Alex and Paul became familiar and much-loved faces within our school community. They built and painted on site, day after day, while the children were in school. They chatted with classes as they passed, answered curious questions, and let pupils witness the magic of art in progress. Alex recalled one moment when a child took a particular interest in the painted bookworms, so the next day, the worms reappeared with added features inspired by that very conversation.
Some children were especially passionate about the idea of cosy areas, somewhere snug, safe, and special. Taking this to heart, Paul built a treehouse inside the library, creating a peaceful hideaway that supports emotional regulation and offers a calm space for reading, reflection, or simply taking a moment to breathe.
What Alex and Paul have created is more than a library. It is a living, breathing space shaped by imagination, collaboration, and joy, a place where every child feels welcome, inspired, and ready to explore the endless worlds that await inside a book.