Mental Illness as Monsters

Toby Allen gives personalities to mental illnesses the best way he knows how, by illustrating them. Aptly labeling the series ‘Real Monsters,’ Allen gives each condition his best portrayal of the demons who overrun minds and hopes to give tangibility to something so debilitating and elusive especially to those who suffer from them. It’s important to note that the UK-based illustrator created the fantastical creatures not as a way to make light of mental conditions, but rather to assign them each characters intended for slaying.