Big Ears and Little Ears

Spot the Difference

Yes I know, another book idea and I haven't finished the others yet. This is basically an excuse for me to draw some funny animals and use polka dots. The idea is that is teaches children that the same creature can come in all different shapes and sizes (a good message overall I feel and one some adults could do with noting too). The Animal Kingdom is a wonderful place full of variety and colour.

Another page for Things we Thought were True when we were Kids

If you want to see the rest check them out here.

Another one for Pocket Mountains

Polar Bear Pete and the Scientist have tea

Pete takes a dip

First in a series for kids encouraging proper pet care

Personally I'm not that keen on swans

Today's offering...

Polar Bear Pete

Polar Bear Pete lived in the Arctic where everything was covered in snow and ice. It was very very cold but Pete didn’t mind. He had thick white fur to keep him cosy and warm and four big paws with five big toes on them to walk around on. He liked to swim in the sea and catch his dinner and play tag in the snow with his Polar Bear friends.

One day a scientist came for tea. He told Pete that he had bad news. The ice Pete lived on was starting to melt and Pete might have to find a new home. The scientist had a friend in Australia who said it was a great place to live. Pete decided to go and visit Australia and see what it was like.

So begin the adventures of Pete.

More Polar Bear Pete!

Introducing Polar Bear Pete...I'm going to think up some stories for this guy

Playing with lettering

On a roll today...

Another greetings card idea...

I'm hoping to find a greetings card company who like quirkier cards because my designs don't seem to be particularly mainstream. I'm experimenting with restricted palettes and I think it is working quite well.

A new book jacket for Pocket Mountains

This is the first in a new series I'm illustrating for Robbie at Pocket Mountains. Titled 'Coast and Country Walks', these books are aimed at walkers of all ages and abilities- well worth a look!

On another note the sun finally came out today and a squirrel came and sunned himself on my kitchen window ledge! Come on Spring!

Cards & postcards

I've been working on some nice Scottish designs for postcards and on some slightly quirkier birthday cards. Currently the designs are available for purchase if anyone fancies them- get in touch!

Hooray it's 2008

Hello everyone, I hope you had a pleasant Christmas and New Year. I've been working away on various projects and have slightly neglected this blog so I'm here to do an update!

I now have my Master of Design degree and I'm available for commission. At the moment I'm spending my spare time working on my Dear Penpal book. I've decided to research each of the countries I have drawn and include a letter from each child. It is coming together rather nicely and I'm going to send it out to some publishers soon (if anyone is interested please let me know!).

eca Centenary Masters of Design 2007

As a culmination of my Master of Design Degree I will be exhibiting in the eca Masters of Design Show running from December 6th-12th at Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. It'd be great to see you there so please pop along and take a look if you can!

Another sketch for Big Little Brother

My Big Little Brother

Character sketches for my new children's book idea 'My Big Little Brother'.

"When I was small I had a little brother and wherever I went I had to take him too. Mum said he was too small to be left on his own and he didn't know things- like how to cross the road, how to tie his laces and not to talk to strangers."

A Funky Fairy

Just because I felt like it. It is just one of those days when I feel the need to paint things pink!

Greyfriar's Bobby

I'm working on ideas for greeting cards at the moment and this is one with a local flavour. Edinburgh's own Bobby in the snow.

Happy Birthday Dad!

An image I drew for my Dad's birthday on Sunday. I'm quite excited by it as this is the first time I've tried to work with black, white and grey only.

Morocco- the final image in my series!

This is it folks. The final one and all will be on display at the Edinburgh College of Art Masters Show in December- come and check them out! To view the whole set take a look here.

The Owl & The Pussy-Cat

Oops, due to a slight mix-up I ended up illustrating the same nursery rhyme as someone else on my course. So here is my new submission for the Master of Design degree show programme.

Japan- part of my Penpals series

Four out of six completed and 6 weeks to go! The Masters Show at the ECA will run from December 5th - 12th and the whole set of these will be exhibited. If you want to see the others on my site click here.

Leckie & Leckie Commission

A nice commission from an educational publisher, to be used as a postcard advertising the drama guide I've illustrated for them.

Hey Diddle Diddle!

My Masters Class are producing a book of illustrated nursery rhymes to act as brochure for our degree show. This will be my contribution. I'm particularly pleased with the border.

Howdy

I'm currently preparing work for my Masters Show in December. At the moment I'm working on a Japanese street scene. I've also moved house and got a lovely new studio. This drawing was just something I had in my head that had to be put to paper.

A Hoopoe wearing a tie

From a commission by Leckie & Leckie Educational Publishers. I'll post the whole thing here once it is finished and in print.

Busy busy- but here is something to keep you going!

The Falkirk Wheel

Hi folks, it has been a while since I posted on here but I've been incredibly busy (which is always good news). At the moment I'm working on a cover featuring Stirling for Pocket Mountains and images for a Drama Course Notes book for Leckie & Leckie.

I'm hoping for some free time soon to continue with my personal work, the Penpals series, which has had some really positive feedback from friends and clients. Watch this space for the next instalment.

Venice

The third in the Penpal series.

Sumo Wrestling

And here is the finished image. I've added more people to the crowd and posters at the back.

In progress, an image of sumo wrestlers in battle. An impulse draw!

Spot the Difference

Further work on the image below. I've added lamposts, a few more people, a bar in the Tabac- well I'll let you find them!

En France

Salut! This is the first image in a series I'm planning showing street scenes from all over the world. This one is, as I hope you can see, France. This is also the product of my entire weekend as the weather is apalling so I've sat at my desk colouring away. Please note- this is an A3 piece! It is officially the largest piece of work I've ever done!

The Lion & The Unicorn

While I'm here, this is another piece I've just finished. It is a modern illustration for the children's nursery rhyme 'The Lion & The Unicorn'. Many nursery rhymes have their roots in politics or historical events and this one is no different. It refers to the joining of Scotland and England by King James and his decision to create a new heraldic crest representing both countries. The unicorn stands for Scotland (and is chained by the crown around its neck!) and the lion for England. In the rhyme the lion 'beats' the unicorn all around town, referring to the not-quite-so-happy union. I've updated this scene with a drawing of the new Scottish Parliament building, relating it to current events and progress.

StoryLab

This is one of the images I produced for the Scottish Storytelling Centre. They went with a white version of this in the end. At the moment I'm working on my Crocodile Fence story and writing my dissertation. The two go side by side as I'm writing about hand lettering in children's books and I've just reached the point where I need to think about what I'm doing text-wise with the book. I've researched how children learn to read and have come to the conclusion that hand lettering is a valuable resource when used in the right circumstances. There needs to be a high level of legibility and consideration for the expected audience but overall children seem to be very capable of transferring reading skills to any font or letterform (once confident in their reading skills that is).

Bookmark for Pocket Mountains

Yey a deer. Thought I'd post a quick update on what I've been up to. I'm currently doing some work for the Scottish Storytelling Centre which I will post here eventually. I also gave a talk as part of the Edinburgh Libraries Festival of Scottish Writing. Thanks to all who attended, it was a great group and helped me through my first big public appearance! (well it was big for me anyway). At the moment I am still really excited about my Jive Bunnies and looking to do something with them as well as working on my ideas for children's books (as part of my Masters degree and personal interest).

Knights in armour...

These images are for a client but I thought I'd share them with you. Busy at the moment as I'm helping my partner prepare for his exhibition.

Boats and interviews

The image above is for this months Rowing & Regatta Magazine. Anybody notice the subtle use of photography? I'm currently working on a series of exciting new projects that I will update on in the near future. Busy busy busy!

Yesterday I was interviewed as part of the Six Cities Design Festival giving my opinions on the use of illustration in album artwork.

Pride & Prejudice with bunnies

The rabbit obsession continues...