As the year draws to end it seems to have been rather a quiet one here. I have completed my first Author/Illustrated picture book, to be released in April and I am currently working on my second for Orchard Books, ready for Bologna Book Fair in late March. 

I’ve also been working on some factual books for Redbird Press who have truly stretched my artists skills, I never knew I could draw Dinosaurs, Cheetahs and diagrams on how to survive in the Jungle. Turns out I just about can!

So as the year draws to an end in a few weeks here is a Christmas man I drew for my Agent: The Bright Agency, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year!

Some of my character designs have been shortlisted in the Self Initiated category at the World Illustration Awards 2017.

The characters, including a coin collector, trainspotter and tiddly winks champion were designed as characters just too boring to be included in any picture book!

I am currently working them into a fully formed picture book, a true tale of the underdog! 

See the full shortlist here

It’s the Bologna Children’s book fair next week, I’m sure you know. 

It doesn’t feel like a year ago I made my portfolio, wandered the vast halls of the fair and left my business cards attached to the illustrators walls in hope of someone picking one up!

This year I am visiting again, having secured an agent and my first picture book deal, the book itself will be launching at the fair. What a difference a year makes.

Through writing and illustrating my first picture book I have grown rather fond of turning my drawings into fully rounded characters, with a story to tell and an adventure to find. It’s nice to spend more time with them and get to know them better. 

My first book features the wonderful duo of Monty (the mouse) and Sylvester (the bear) as they duly train to become superheroes, like any youngsters they spend their free time deep in an imaginative landscape of fun and adventure. Due to their rather haphazard take on the superhero job role, hilarity ensues, but I’ve said enough, you’ll have to read it (out March 2018, date for you diary)

Here is the cover of the Hachette Children’s Group, Spring 2017, Colour rights guide (bit of a mouthful) for the fair. with an illustration from Monty and Sylvester on the cover, it’s rather exciting!

Bologna here I come!

I haven’t sent any work into the Bologna children’s book illustrators exhibition for a long time. The standard of work is extremely high and the exhibition is always cutting edge and very inspiring.

I decided to have another pop this year and have sent off some work to the printers, it’s taken a few attempts and I gave up on it a few times before going back in with fresh eyes to finish it off.

Here are 2 of the pieces I will be submitting, fingers and toes crossed, that means you too, go on!

I love a competition for the chance to create some new work to an exciting brief. This years Cheltenham illustration awards was right up my street: Tales of nonsense, what a fantastic idea. I can’t wait to see how each artist has interpreted it. I love nonsense.

Here are my entries, I did 2 in the end as I couldn’t decide if each was nonsensical enough.

Nonsense giant foam fingers crossed!