I am semi-retired, taking on illustration projects as and when they arrive. I am working on two publishing projects, one concerning the survival of the world's forests, and a second book about the La Taino tribes on their meeting with Columbus in Haiti.

My Fellowship theme of Banners and Flags in China, Japan and Hong Kong led to the creation of a small business during the 1980s but other projects using my illustration and drawing skills led to more commissions in that direction. For over 30 years I have run a map illustration company Hand Made Maps Ltd and still work on projects from time to time.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic instigated a major revision of my activities and my personal drawing work is now my main consideration (this can be seen on Instagram at @davidatkinson_drawing and on my website at www.davidatkinson.info).

I travelled on my Churchill Fellowship when I was 35 in 1984 – a real turning point which gave me much more independence of thought and spirit. It was a factor in giving me the courage to go freelance. Now in my seventies, I look back at the Fellowship in 1984 as a key moment in my life.