Una‘s powerful graphic memoir, Becoming Unbecoming, went from strength to strength in 2015, following appearances on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, and her nomination for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize,  .

Becoming Unbecoming is Una’s devastating personal account of gender violence told in graphic-novel form, set against the backdrop of the 1970s Yorkshire Ripper man-hunt.

Anna James praised the book on BBC Radio 4’s Open Book programme (‘incredibly powerful, insightful… an unapologetic call for the importance of listening to other women’s lives’) and in Elle magazine, as well as on her own blog A Case for Books: (‘my favourite graphic novel of the year’). Kerry Hudson called it ‘a brilliant, brave and fiercely intelligent book’ in Herald Scotland.

Becoming Unbecoming also featured on a host of ‘best of 2015’ selections including Paul Gravett’s Top Ten British Graphic Novels (‘poignant, powerful, astute’); Grazia’s ‘comic books for the GIRLS generation’ and best of the year lists from Forbidden Planet (‘brilliantly controlled and compelling’); Feminist Intelligence (‘beautiful… harrowing and politically sharp’); Tech Times (‘a disturbing personal story set against the disturbing backdrop of serial murders, but Una somehow manages to render everything beautifully’); Pamreader (‘one of the most important books published in 2015’); Savidge Reads (‘a very brave, important and thought-provoking book’); and Multiversity Comics (‘a fantastic graphic novel… astounding’).

In autumn 2015 it was shortlisted for the prestigious Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize, which recognises an individual woman who has, through writing or campaigning, raised awareness of violence against women and children.

Listen again to Una’s second appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, where her live drawings were tweeted throughout the programme. And read an interview with Una for the F Word in which she discusses artistic techniques, the disparity between male and female violence and the effect of growing up in the 1970s against the backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper.