Meet Heather
Heather R. Hitchman is an artist, author, and world builder, creating a fantasy world called “Terratoff” filled with whimsical art and bittersweet stories. Terratoff is a realm of enchantingly magical visuals and tales that celebrate the beauty of nature, decay, transformation, and grief. Her work is inspired by mythology, medieval tapestry, ghost stories, and the dark fantasy media of the 80s and 90s. She has created a prolific collection of creature and fantasy art that has been hand-crafted using traditional media such as graphite, colored pencils, watercolor and gouache.
Heather currently resides in Charlotte NC with her husband (Tad), and three cats (Pepper, North & South). She exhibits regularly at The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, Heroes Con, Dragon Con (and more), has been featured in Colored Pencil Magazine, Colouring Heaven, and has collaborated with 78Tarot as well as other brands!
You can follow along with Heather’s journey to build the world of Terratoff by joining her free newsletter, or unlock rewards by becoming an official “Terratoffian” on Patreon!
Find out more about Heather’s convention exhibitor, artist alley, and Renaissance Faire displays on the “Show Info” page.
Heather’s Story
As a child, I loved to draw and hear stories about enchanted animals and ghosts that lived in the mysterious forests near my hometown in England. I grew up watching and reading beloved classics like “Bambi”, “The Dark Crystal”, “The Land Before Time”, “A Christmas Carol”, and “The Last Unicorn”. These whimsical yet sad stories captivated me, and inspired a longing at a young age to begin making my own stories. My journey began with little flip books that I made myself, then read aloud to my family at the dinner table. From these humble beginnings my dreams began to grow…
Growing up in the natural, and historical influence of England ignited my imagination.
Our family often visited castles where I felt the whispers of old magic and the passing of the ages all around me. I adored gazing upon the displays of medieval tapestries and deciphering the stories they told.
It was an enchanted time when the trees and animals were my friends, and magic always seemed to be right around the corner. But we wouldn’t remain in England for long. In elementary school we moved to the United States, and my sprawling neighborhood of trees and other children were replaced with strangers and a whole new life. I often escaped my homesickness in books, pretending I was once again frolicking in the familiar forests of home instead of navigating a new school in a strange land.
Soon enough new friends were made, and I started to settle in.
Then one day we were assigned to read “Bridge to Terabithia” in class. I could deeply relate to the tale of two children playing make-believe together in the woods to escape to another world, and I was inspired. So I gathered my new friends, and created a new realm for us to play in.
I imagined a magical world of all my favorite fantasy and forest creatures, with stories just as beautiful and haunting as my favorite childhood movies and books. And so, we claimed the old oak tree in the back of the playground as our own. There we danced and played in “Terratoff” all recess long, escaping the bullies and homework to our own magical realm.
Through the years my love for make-believe and reading never waned. As I grew up, I kept the world of Terratoff alive in my heart, secretly adapting and growing the story in my journals and sketchbooks year after year.
Working with graphite pencils and wax colored pencils, I began creating a prolific catalog of creature art each with their own story. Eventually I started self training in watercolor and gouache. I combined the wet media with oil based colored pencils to create a unique painting technique that featured fantastical nature scenes where the magical creatures “glowed” off the canvas. To me this symbolized “a light in the darkness”, and that no matter how dark the story gets there is always hope to be found.
My new dream became to bring the realm of Terratoff to life by making my “Tales of Terratoff” into illustrated books. But I couldn’t do it alone.
In 2017 I launched my Terratoff Patreon, and made my first public debut exhibiting my art and stories at HeroesCon in Charlotte NC. Fans instantly fell in love with the whimsical, sometimes spooky, vibe of Terratoff. Little by little more “Terratoffians” joined the realm, supporting and cheering on the dream of the Terratoff novels to come!
With over 100 creatures and short stories created thus far, I draw ever closer to my dream of making Terratoff a reality through illustrated novels. One page, and one story at a time.
Heather’s Artist CV
Event Appearances & Conventions
I regularly exhibit my works at comic conventions around the country, bringing my illuminated pro panel display of original paintings and limited edition framed prints wherever I go! I have also brought the realm to several Renaissance Faires, both with a tent set up, and transforming existing structures into a fantasy gallery full of warmth and magical discoveries!
The offerings from the realm include original drawings and paintings, open and limited edition prints, vinyl stickers, bookmarks, magnets, tote bags and more to come!
I am honored to have been an exhibiting artist at these shows!
- Carolina Renaissance Festival (NC)
- Bay Area Renaissance Festival (FL)
- Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Festival (FL)
- Dragon Con (GA)
- Awesome Con (DC)
- Galaxy Con (FL)
- Heroes Con (NC)
- Holiday Matsuri (FL)
- Illuxcon (IX Art Show) (Showcase) (PA)
- Megacon (FL)
- SuperCon (FL)
- Spooky Empire (FL)
- Lightbox (Online)
Select Projects & Inclusions
My work has been featured with love in the following publications, groups, and brands!
- 78 Tarot
- Imagine FX Magazine
- Colored Pencil Magazine
- Colouring Heaven
- Encounters with the Imaginary (volume 3)
- Tiny Dragon Book by ArtOrder
- Geekmom.com
- Jerry’s Artarama
- Founding Member of Changeling Artist Collective
About Terratoff
“Terratoff” is a magical realm that combines the charm of fantasy creatures with the spookiness of the supernatural. Here, magic is the essence of all life and “creatures of magic” reign in the fairy tale forests. This mystical place may appear entrancing beyond compare, but their world is under threat by a haunting magic the corrupts all that is good from the inside out… and it seeks to “rott” all that it touches.
Born of an enchanted “mother tree”, the fauns rule over this mythical realm filled with creatures such as unicorns, dragons, and many more. But when the soul corrupting plague known as “The Rott” returns, it sends the fauns into a wretched war against their brethren, now possessing dangerous and haunted new magic. The plague spoils goodness and amplifies evil, transforming the host’s body into a physical representation of the decay growing within. Their cursed magic is deadly, and as the Rott corruption spreads, more and more creatures of magic become twisted versions of their inner demons, and Terratoff slowly succumbs to darkness.
Soon their world and the Rott become entangled with “The World of Man”, causing paranormal phenomena to tear both worlds apart.
As “The Rott” advances its decay from one realm to the next, the journey unfolds through the eyes of humans and creatures alike. Through their stories the true nature of magic, spirits, and demons are revealed!