London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

Local author illustrates history of BVI with colouring book series for adults and kids

Local author illustrates history of BVI with colouring book series for adults and kids

A local author has created the territory’s first-ever colouring book series for both children and adults, which depicts the heritage, culture and history of the territory dating as far back as the late 1700s.

She is Gabrielle Skelton-Bardo who spoke to BVI News about her recently-released book titled ‘Virgin Islands History Illustrated: The Colouring Book Series’.

The first book of the three-part series focuses on the history of the central areas of Tortola, including the fortifications that once existed which were taken from the 1798 map of the island.

These fortifications, according Bardo, include Fort Burt, Fort Charlotte, Fort Road Town (the Purple Palace now known as the Bougainvillea Clinic), Fort Shirley (Fish Bay), Fort George (Baughers Bay), St Philip Anglican Church, Historical Main Street, Sunday Morning Well and the first agriculture station in the BVI.

“They’re going to see some of the buildings dated back from the 1800’s in the state that they were, they will also see the first hospital in the original state and then the stages through the years when it went from a wooden building to a concrete building, to the building that it is today,” Bardo stated.


Inspiration behind the book

The colouring aspect of the 56-page book makes it enjoyable for children while the snippets of researched information associated with each illustration make it valuable to persons of all ages.

Bardo said the inspiration behind the book started back in January 2018. She told our news centre the idea came to her when several children approached her wanting to learn more about the history of the BVI to assist with the completion of school-based assignments.

“They wanted to be able to access resources that were easy or readily available for them. One child told me that when they go on the internet, they can’t find the information pertaining to the subject matter that the teacher might ask them at school or they don’t know where they could collect information from in order to finish the project,” she explained.

“I remember the boys didn’t want to read when I was in primary school, they found it boring, especially if the books didn’t have pictures, so I wanted to create something that pertains to our culture and our history and is vital for young people to want to know and be able to access and want to read it,” she further explained.


Queries from adult residents and tourists

In addition to the interest shown from children regarding the territory’s history, Bardo said there were also several residents and tourists who had many questions about the origins of the islands.

“I was working in the charter industry and I met guests that would always ask me questions about the history of the Virgin Islands and different information about the Virgin Islands, not just because they come here and yacht and go to restaurants and other things, but they wanted to know other things about the British Virgin Islands.”

“And then I had persons that were going through the Fast-Track system for Belonger status and residency, and they wanted to know more about the BVI,” she added.


Persons and entities involved in process

Describing the process which she took to gather all the material needed for the book, the local author made reference to two places - the National Archives Unit (NAU) and the Virgin Islands Studies Institute (VISI) at H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).

“I started doing searches, I had a few historical books of my own and I was going through those and then I needed to broaden the horizon because I needed more based on the locations and based on the different sites I had written down,” she said.

It was at VISI that Bardo met Director Bernadine Louis who played a pivotal role in the creation process as the editor.

“She worked with me to collaborate on the images and get the history … She was very pivotal in getting everything structured so that when we were able to tell a story it was prepared,” Bardo stated.

In addition to Louis, Bardo spoke highly of the book’s illustrator David Thrasher, who was the pioneer behind getting the images for the book.


Second book in progress

Meanwhile, Bardo said the second book of the three-part-series will focus on the eastern side of Tortola, and will have a number of surprises since that section of the island is well documented.

The final book of the series will focus on the western side of Tortola. However, Bardo said there will be four additional books which each focus on Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada and other islands in the BVI.


How to contact

Persons interested in purchasing a book can visit the Facebook page ‘Colour ME BVI History’. The book will also be available at Bamboushay Boutique in Road Town.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
×