Colouring In is a love story. A talented artist, James Clifton, is unable to break free from a life of hopeless, rootless underachievement and make good use of his skills and abilities. His rose-tinted, over-nostalgic view of his adolescence (which he believes is the only time he was truly happy) is an anchor that prevents him from moving on.
James is also hopeless at relationships.
Laura Drysdale drops into his life and creates transformation. Her place in his past, which James cannot recall or recognise, means she helps James to exorcise those sentimental demons. Laura also provides the impetus for James to recognise that his creativity can be released to the world, in turn making it loved.
An exploration of the creative mind, Colouring In has multiple layers and psychological edges. Set between 1989 and 1997 in England, with flashbacks to the 1970s, Colouring In is nonetheless a tale for all time, as it deals with overcoming difficulties (both internal and external) to find success and love.