Monday, 12 January 2026
Where Engineering Meets Storytelling
Complex manufacturing processes are the lifeblood of innovation, yet they’re notoriously difficult to explain to the outside world.
To bridge this gap, Katie Walden Illustration and Sophie Seddon PR teamed up with a leading British manufacturer to show that “highly technical” doesn’t have to mean “inaccessible”.
By combining strategic PR and bespoke illustration, we turned complex industrial operations into powerful stories that command attention, communicate purpose and engage audiences at every level.
The Client: A National and International “Jewel”
We partnered with BEP Surface Technologies, a Manchester-based leader in specialised electroplating and precision engineering.
Described by national defence partners as “the jewel in the crown of the nation”,their expertise lies in precision engineering that improves the performance and durability of essential infrastructure.
BEP works on high-stakes processes that extend the life of critical components across defence, energy, transportation, oil, gas, and packaging industries.
Their expertise includes hard chrome, nickel and copper plating, and high-tolerance cylindrical grinding for turbine shafts and chill rolls.
The Challenge
Despite BEP’s financial strength and industry leadership, its processes are deeply technical and difficult to visualise.
Our mission was to turn BEP’s specialist expertise into content that could be understood by non-technical audiences – whether policymakers, stakeholders, investors, staff or the wider public.
We aimed to create materials that raise BEP’s profile, support lobbying, influence policy, and showcase the company’s impact across every audience.
How We Made It Happen
We analysed years of press releases and communications to identify core themes, ensuring the visual narrative aligned with BEP’s brand, values and long-term commercial goals.
Moving from boardroom to shop floor, we captured the ‘soul’ of the factory through sketches and notes, bringing authenticity to every illustration and message.
By engaging directly with the workforce, we highlighted cross-generational skill sharing, ethics, and craftsmanship. The core values behind the machinery.
We translated complex processes into ‘Illustrated Explainers’, linking technical detail to real-world outcomes and demonstrating what BEP’s work means for everyday life, national infrastructure, and security.
Key Features of Illustrated Explainers
A playful but purposeful “Where’s Wally?” theme across five illustrated episodes:
- Defence
- Oil and Gas
- Transportation
- Energy
- Packaging
Click below for full screen
Strategic storytelling aligned with bespoke illustrations. Content that aligned with BEP’s brand, values and long-term purpose.
Every illustration highlights real-world impact, from critical infrastructure to everyday applications.
Can you spot the ‘jewel’ in each episode? A fun and engaging way to explore the company’s technical brilliance.
Main Advantages and Benefits of Illustrated Explainers
Illustrated Explainers make highly technical content accessible and engaging for multiple audiences.
They have helped position BEP as an industry leader, highlighting investment in staff, cross-generational skills, PPE, safety, innovation, new technology, and financial strength.
We created accessible content that supports use across policy, thought leadership, internal communications, and social media.
This helps bridge the gap between engineering expertise and audience understanding without dumbing anything down. To strengthen BEP’s brand as high-quality, forward-thinking, innovative, and people-focused.
By combining PR strategy and visual storytelling, we reinforced BEP’s credibility, influence, and leadership, both nationally and internationally.
The Outcome
Our collaboration produced:
- High-quality A5 printed booklets
- Illustrated A3 printed posters for factory environments, celebrating staff and craftsmanship
- A suite of social media graphics for digital campaigns and stakeholder engagement
These assets work seamlessly across:
- Print and digital media
- Parliamentary and policy conversations
- Thought leadership and stakeholder engagement
- Internal communications and staff engagement
By turning technical processes into visually compelling, purposeful content, we helped BEP communicate why its work matters, not just what it does.
Collaboration Highlight
Visual communication has the power to influence, educate and inspire. Complexity doesn’t have to be complicated, and it certainly doesn’t have to be boring.
Behind every plated component and precision-ground shaft is a story about:
- National and international infrastructure
- Energy, transportation and defence
- Innovation, investment and people
Our job was to help BEP tell that story clearly, confidently and creatively.
Andrew McClusky, Managing Director at BEP, said: “Supporting critical infrastructure demands more than technical capability. It requires financial strength, robust governance and a serious commitment to health, safety and compliance.
“The Illustrated Explainers help show the reality behind modern manufacturing at BEP: a business built on long-term investment, skilled people, rigorous standards and continuous innovation.
“They allow us to clearly demonstrate the level of credibility, resilience and responsibility required to operate at scale and at the heart of critical supply chains.”
Clear Communication Matters
Especially in industries that underpin national and international infrastructure.
If you’re shaping policy conversations, investing in innovation or building the future of manufacturing, this is what illustrated storytelling can do.
Want to learn how complex industries can be communicated clearly, creatively and with purpose?
Explore how our Illustrated Explainers and visual storytelling can support understanding, influence decision-makers and showcase the real-world impact of British manufacturing – nationally and internationally.
Contact
sophie@sophieseddonpr.co.uk or hello@katiewaldenillustration.com