Ettie & the Birds

I've just finished my children's book Ettie & the Birds. It's about a lonely elephant in a zoo who longs for friends of her own. One day she wakes to a strange noise...

I'm about to start sending this out to publishers but if anyone would like to see more then get in touch.

Snail - shell = slug?

From one of my childhood ponderings. Of course I know now that they belong to the same family (the gastropods) but are entirely different creatures.

On the theme of evolution...

I was thinking about Darwin and this image popped into my head. I just had to get it down on paper, so here it is!

Darwin and Evolution

A subject close to my heart. This year sees the bicentenary of Darwin's birth and various events and TV programmes are celebrating his life and his work. For me the highlight so far was David Attenborough's 'Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life' on the BBC.

You Nearly Sank My Battleship!

Based on the news headline and one of the childhood games loved by my brother and I. My favourite quote from the Guardian has to be this "The SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, said: "The UK Ministry of Defence needs to explain how it is possible for a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction to collide with another submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction in the middle of the world's second-largest ocean."

Can you do the Tango with a Tiger?

Pages one and two of a new idea I'm kicking around at the mo. It's a book combining animals and dance moves...

On a roll today...

Dino Greeting

Bizarre News

Roadspill

Playing around with some type today in a little break from my client work. Found a fascinating site listing all the things that have fallen off the back of trucks in the US!

Dreaming Sealmaiden

Part of a project I'm working on for Stòrlann. I've played around with this one as the final is in black and white.

Hello

I've not posted much recently as I'm hard at work on a number of projects that can't be posted until they're published. But trust me- I'm still here! Took some time off yesterday to watch the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. I just can't help but like President Obama and I feel slightly hopeful this morning.

Happy New Year

Let's hope 2009 isn't as bad as everyone is saying it will be! I have a good feeling about this year and I'm happy to be back at my desk with my pen in my hand...

Santa's Reindeer

Only twenty sleeps to Christmas!

The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Harbour Seals

A worrying report on the BBC website today.

Commission from Sight and Sound magazine

Illustrating an article discussing the issues created by reviewers not having enough time to mull over films and being asked to give an instant response.

Sleepy Stanley

A page from 'Sleepy Stanley'. A book about a cat who likes to sleep in the strangest places. You can see more of Stanley here.

Boo the Bear

Some Seasonal Imagery

Hooray it's nearly December! I love Christmas. Mulled wine, gingerbread, decorations and (finger crossed) snow.

It's Panto Season!

Hello I'm Daredevil Dog- the Canine Stunt King!

Introducing Daredevil Dog, a fearless canine superstar! He's brave, bold and scared of nothing. Oh, except for spiders. He really, really hates spiders.

Under the Sea

A sudden compulsion to draw an underwater scene has conjured this piece into life. I may add a few more little details here and there at a later stage.

Inspired by the BBC Scotland News website today...

Polar Bear in the Frozen Food Section of a Supermarket

Some Strange Wee Beasties

Today's doodles...

Daredevil Dog!

A new page for 'Sleepy Stanley'

Stanley the cat likes to sit in the sun and clean his paws. He likes it when he has his tummy rubbed and it makes him purr. He likes it when his food bowl is filled with tasty dinner. But what Stanley likes to do most of all is to sleep.

Stanley will fall asleep just about anywhere.

Happy Halloween

1960s style...

Today's Scribbles

My Autumn Mail Out

Some of these lovelies should be winging their way to various people on my contact list in the next few weeks. Ahh Autumn.

I won September's Flair competition on Creativematch!

Hooray! This is the winning entry- a book jacket for a walking guide published by Pocket Mountains.

New Christmas Designs

Something a bit more 'graphic' from me today. I've been playing with patterns and thinking about Christmas...

Illustration Friday - 'Strings'

Finally a submission for Illustration Friday. Okay so this is my first entry for almost two years but I always check out the other entries. I've been there in spirit!

This week the topic was 'strings' and I thought I'd enter an image of an imaginary band line-up including various stringed instruments. They may be imaginary but you can tell they'd be good!

Guinea Pig Greetings

Dog Greeting Cards

Some of my card designs are still available to purchase so please get in touch if you're interested.

New Book jacket for Pocket Mountains

This is the almost-finished version of a new cover for a walking guide to the Lake District.

The House of Illustration Competition

The House of Illustration is a new museum dedicated to, well, illustration obviously! They're running a competition based on a Victorian Parlour game where the players sketch out eight of their favourite things from a list. This image is from an overall piece in progress and it depicts my favourite book (Pride & Prejudice).

I haven't posted much recently due to a large volume of work, most of which I can't yet put up as it hasn't reached the printing press...so you'll just have to believe me- I've been busy!

Gurkha Petition

I don't normally post things like this one here but this one is important.

It's a petition to the Prime Minister to give all Ex Gurkha soldiers and their families who have served our country British citizenship on leaving the service.

Submitted by Ross Pritchard – Deadline to sign up by: 26 November 2008 – Current Signatures: 30,231

And here is an article explaining why.

The Bearded Lady

An impulse draw, possibly inspired by the circus-type tents in the Meadows at the moment!

Christmas Designs