Charlotte Carter books brought back to life by Bristol artist

Ms Turner said it was amazing to see the covers she designed in a bookshop

A black artist says she was "honoured" to be asked to illustrate a series of re-issued novels by a black writer.

Lucy Turner, from Bristol, was commissioned to create new covers for books by Charlotte Carter.

Jade Chandler, from publishers Baskerville, said black authors writing about black women are "still vanishingly rare".

"It's incredibly important to me to represent black people," said Ms Turner.

First released in the late 1990s and 2000, the series, featuring mystery-solving musician Nanette Hayes, have been reissued by Baskerville in the UK.

Lucy Turner used her signature bold style to create the covers

Ms Turner's colourful, bold work is often seen in Bristol, including in the form of a giant mural outside the city's Watershed arts centre.

"I was asked to get involved with the books and was sent an excerpt so I could get a feel for the heroine Nanette," she said.

"She's a young black woman who takes no nonsense. She's a strong, independent woman and I was like, yes! I really identified with her."

Ms Turner, 29, said she felt it was important to be part of the process to revive the work of "an amazing author", which deals with themes such as racism, sexism and social inequality.

Ms Turner's signature style uses bold, dramatic colours

"To be involved in this project - books written by a black woman, illustrated by a black woman - I think that's actually incredibly rare.

"I'm just so excited that's happened and I can represent the books, and maybe help the next generation discover Charlotte Carter."

'Lack of writers of colour'

Jade Chandler, publishing director at Baskerville, said crime books written by black women featuring black female leads are "vanishingly rare."

"This trilogy was originally published in the 1990s, but has been out of print for years, so we are delighted to reissue them," she said.

Charlotte Carter has written more than 50 books

"We count ourselves lucky that Lucy has brought Nanette back to life with her stunning illustrations - the response to the book covers has been brilliant.

"This series was a landmark publication in a genre which is still - even now - seriously lacking in books by writers of colour.

"It feels important Nanette is back and available to readers once more.

"Alongside contemporary crime and thriller writers including Attica Locke, Dorothy Koomson and Nadine Matheson, I hope the books might play a part in inspiring a future generation of aspiring writers to create stories."

One of Ms Turner's larger artworks can be seen outside the Watershed arts centre in Bristol

Ms Turner said seeing her covers in Waterstones in Bristol was "almost indescribable".

"It is such an amazing feeling. I felt so proud to see my work, and to represent someone like Charlotte Carter and take her stories forward."