The client ask for a colorful banner to promote some talks about fears. He ask for a Coraline (animated movie) look, with a picture of that character walking outside at night.
Instead of taking the character outside at night, I prefer to play with the nightmares in a bedroom, it is more scary when you think you are on a "safe" environment.
I remember when I was a kid and play to find shapes in the shadows, that also help for the inspiration. The worlds of Neil Gaiman (I am a big fan) and Tim Burton also give some shape to the ideas.