We all live in a world of scepticism, disbelief and doubt. But imagine instead, if you will, one filled with mystery and magic. This is no ‘wonderland’, but here wishes actually can come true in a way that you can hardly believe; a place where imagination is more precious than diamonds and diamonds are as common as sand. It is within all our abilities to visit this far-distant land, but you will need good reason, for the journey is fraught with peril.
Watch and listen along to the Video-Storybook editions of the Elphen Chronicles, in which Paul reveals the enchanting world of Elphen, through his illustrated storytelling of Elphen folklore.
Select & Treasure
Neither will you be the first, for many have sought the way. Join Fizz and Zand, who, accompanied by their Elphen mentors, make life-enhancing discoveries, as chronicled in ‘Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer’ and ‘Starway Sapphires’.
Fizz
Fizz was an observer of minutiae, for there was something hidden in her nature. Something that was propelling her towards a series of events that would challenge not only the girl she might become, but even her continued existence. Being an avid reader Fizz could be frequently observed with her head buried in one of her many books. These stories, from the very beginning, inspired changes in her own world. Soon she was constantly accompanied by the inhabitants conjured up by her fertile imagination. Quite often it became difficult for her to discern where reality ended and fantasy held sway.
Zand’s private world was quite small, but very special and, even quite magical. His maternal grandfather had died when he was only small. Everyone told him they had been close, but his memory of him was rather vague and swiftly fading. As a solitary child, the formative years of his childhood were spent at his grandmother’s side and like all youngsters he couldn’t wait to get outside, for it seemed to Zand, that his grandmother’s garden belonged to him. Amongst the vegetation, grew one very large, spectacular thistle, which he had discovered, almost completely covered with small ovoid insects. As a consequence a virtually devotional love of insects had developed within Zand, over the years.
Webstrand, Elphen Swam Leader and Tooth Gatherer, whose first meeting with Fizz is somewhat tetchy – although they have much in common, both being adventurous in nature. In the process of trying to convince Fizz that Elphen are not fictional fairies, Webstrand finds herself making a rash promise, one that Fizz will simply not ignore; which is how the momentous quest on this particular night gets underway for Fizz and her new-found Elphen companion - a journey that also leads Fizz to an encounter with Zand.
Weftwing, Elphen Swarm Leader and Insect Whisperer, whose first encounter with Zand, at a similar age to Fizz, is similarly off to a non-believing start. Yet these two insect-whisperers are destined to come together, for Zand’s fate is pre-ordained, as recounted in Elphen folklore. Furthermore, Zand’s future is bound by a legacy, a legacy in which his grandfather has played a significant role.
Fizz could never have imagined that the losing of a tooth, although significant, would result in such an awe-inspiring change of fortunes. Much less that it would lead to an auspicious meeting with Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer, not to mention Starfire, the Elphen Seer. Yet this gem of a tooth, held far more promise, as she was soon to discover; for it was not simply to be replaced by a new one, as is the normal order of things. Fizz’s tooth was of considerable value, not only for the Elphen, but for Fizz herself - a guiding light in her life, a life in which the Elphen would be ever-present.
An open-door to the new beginning in Zand’s life, brought about through meeting Weftwing, as recounted in the ‘Starway Sapphires’. Zand’s grandfather’s legacy – a unique and precious paintbox - a treasure trove of a lifelong passion, passed down through time and, once again, to be reborn. But, most importantly, a paintbox heaped full of possibilities, the interior, crammed with tubes of paint and myriad brushes. Bottles containing differing coloured liquids were a fascination, each labelled in his grandfather’s script. The lid itself held a well-used palette, perfectly polished with years of paint.
Exclusively composed by Liza Mulholland for Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer and Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles, the accompanying musical soundscape invites us to inhabit Fizz’s dream-world. Feel the rush of wings as she first meets Webstrand and her Tooth Gathering Swarm; fly with Fizz through the Blue Crystal Cavern and over the Silver Forest, as she journeys on to the canyon that houses the Elphen Nest. The story takes a terrifying turn as Fizz meets some of the Elphen adversaries and flies onward to the magma fields of Arktura, where the fate of her tooth is revealed.
With echoes of Fizz’s quest alongside Webstrand, during which she meets the Changeling, Zand, we are once more, transported into the Elphen world of Shimmistra. Experience Zand’s horror at his encounter with a Raknid, countered by his surprise and delight at meeting Weftwing. Bask in the glow of a Summer’s day in his grandmother’s garden, as he catches his first sighting of the Starway Sapphires. Look forward to what lies in store for Zand, as the door opens on the new life that awaits him – a world in which his Elphen companions will be ever at his side.
Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer – Video-Storybook First Edition
Running Time : 9hours 27minutes
Nine-videos box-set - this unabridged edition features the entire story, as laid out across the nine chapters of the book ‘Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer’ from Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles
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Presented and narrated throughout by Paul Taggart
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Based on Sunita Gahir’s original book design
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Ever-changing page backgrounds reflect the mood-changing nature of the story
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Pages bearing jewelled borders reproduced from original artworks by Paul Taggart
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Featuring Paul Taggart’s suite of twenty original Masterworks oil paintings
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Illustrated throughout with Paul Taggart’s collection of one-hundred and twelve original Storytelling Vignette paintings
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Brought to life with additional illustrations and animation artworks, uniquely created by Paul Taggart for the Video-Storybook edition
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Accompanied throughout by the original musical soundscape, composed exclusively for Video-Storybook editions of Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles
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Filmed and produced in Paul Taggart’s private studio
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Released and published by the collaborative collective, The Three Quills studio (as noted below)
Starway Sapphires – Video-Storybook First Edition
Running Time : 1hour 36minutes
This unabridged edition features the entire story, as laid out in the self-contained short story, ‘Starway Sapphires’ (Paintbox Tale No.2 in The Paintbox Tales compendium, from Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles
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Presented and narrated throughout by Paul Taggart
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Based on Sunita Gahir’s original book design
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Unique and original illuminated gilt lettering featured throughout, created exclusively from hand-painted original illustrated borders and images by Paul Taggart
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Featuring Paul Taggart’s suite of original Miniature Masterworks oil paintings
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Brought to life with additional illustrations and animation artworks, uniquely created by Paul Taggart for the Video-Storybook edition
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Accompanied throughout by the original musical soundscape, composed exclusively for Video-Storybook editions of Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles
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Filmed and produced in Paul Taggart’s private studio
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Released and published by the collaborative collective, The Three Quills studio (as noted below)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024 – Paul Taggart has asserted his Rights as the Sole Artist & Author of Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles. ALL RIGHTS (including Music) owned by Paul W. Taggart, Eileen M. Tunnell, Sunita J. Gahir [The Three Quills]
The Three Quills studio, symbolising the trio of creative strands that are art & design, writings and music.
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Paul Taggart – Artist : Author : Presenter : Producer [Sole Author & Illustrator of ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles©’]
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Eileen Tunnell – Project Director, Producer, Video Auteur ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Sunita Gahir – Design Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Liza Mulholland – Music Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’