Charlotte Cooke Illustration

I know it's late but...

2012-01-13T19:35:00.001Z

Penguins

2011-09-09T18:19:00.001+01:00

Pretty much LOVE this...

2011-09-09T16:58:00.001+01:00

Hansel and Gretel

2011-09-05T19:43:00.002+01:00

Friends

2011-08-31T17:10:00.000+01:00

Exciting times

2011-08-19T15:25:00.004+01:00

I have now started the character development for my new book with Meadowside - (well, my old book that i did for my degree that I was awarded Highly Commended for in the Macmillan Prize in 2010), but we are improving it. So exciting because, as before, my mum is writing the text for it, and i am drawing the pictures (because that's what i do, funnily enough).

You can find my mum HERE, too.

We are aiming to get to the point where we are ready to colour it all up before i go off to have my little babba, so i've got a few things to be getting on with in the next 9 weeks, but will be awesome to come back to work to colouring up this book. I hope it's going to be successful because it means a lot to me!

Anyway, thought i'd share some little character development sketches because it's nice to see that some times :)

HAPPY FRIDAY!

It's been a really long time...

2011-08-19T13:46:00.008+01:00

...since i posted anything on my blog!

PLEASE forgive my absence, but we have moved house, decorated the house, and I have been finishing off and starting projects left right and centre! And all these things are very important as I am an ever ticking time bomb, with now only 9 weeks to go until my D day (Due date!)... So it's all engines go to get it all done before baby arrives.

On the plus side though I can do a huge post here with some work I have been doing over the past few months (YAY!) and finally show you some of the things i've been colouring in :)

So to start off with we have some artwork from 'Lucille Gets Jealous' - a book i finished recently for Capstone Publishers (Little Boost Books) in the US of AAAAAAAAAA! Absolutely loved doing this book and LOVED working with them too. I have permission from them to put this work up so it's all good! Not sure when the book is out but i'll keep you posted.
The book is about Lucille who is jealous of her baby sister Margaret, and it finds Lucille getting into a sticky mess before finding out she is loved just as much as her sister. Cute story. Here are some images:

Next up we have some spreads from 'Starvin' Marvin's Big Day Out' - the third book I have illustrated for Karen Davies and her charity, Blazing Glory. You can see the previous two books i have illustrated HERE.

Very cute lions. Lions are actually quite hard to draw, well they were when i started to draw them. I always find reference is helpful when I don't know how to draw something. Always the best way to go!

So there is a little full colour update - will also do another post about a very EXCITING project I have started this week.

Bye for now!

A blog about MOI!

2011-07-18T15:15:00.004+01:00

I have a lovely school friend who runs a print company with her hubby, called Grayscale Design.
They have started a blog and have featured my work, which is very nice of them indeedy!

Have a look here is you like...

...just so you know

2011-07-11T16:36:00.001+01:00

Sneek Peeks...

2011-07-11T16:19:00.003+01:00

Ballet dancing pandas...

2011-06-29T15:16:00.002+01:00

Some progress...

2011-06-13T13:22:00.003+01:00

So here is a little character from the book I am doing in the USA.
With all my characters i start off with sketchy sketches and then use my lightbox to outline them in neat pencil line.
This is important in this case as for this book I am using the pencil line as a layer in the illos. So i go from this...

...to this, where i use the lightbox again to paint over the line work so it fits once overlayed, and using a mixture of acrylics and pastel pencils, I work into the image and build it up...

...to this! Paint finished and scanned in, i can manipulate parts and colours in photoshop, and add the pencil line overlay! Whoopah! :)

TDAC

2011-06-12T16:00:00.003+01:00

So my brownie recipe is up in the features on 'they draw and cook' 's website till the 15th! Pop over and have a lookie :)

www.theydrawandcook.com

Don't be shy...

2011-06-07T14:21:00.002+01:00

...pop over to etsy and grab a limited edition print!!!

*YES PLEASE!*

It's juuuuuuuuuuuuuune!

2011-06-01T17:57:00.004+01:00

...so i thought i'd give you a sneaky peek at a spread for the book in Korea :)

...and a little bit of panda love...

Ooh it's in print!

2011-05-27T14:07:00.008+01:00

(Original Artwork ^ )

A while back I did a job for Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. This afternoon i've got some of their publicity through the post with my little illo in it! Very happy with how it looks and looking forward to getting a couple of posters through for it too :)

Polka Theatre

Also on the next page is an awesome illo from Teresa Murfin, who has done one for Charlotte's Web. I used to love that book when i was ickle. Check her out HERE.

Sneaky peek...

2011-05-24T09:00:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone!

I am mega busy at the moment what with moving house in 10 weeks time, growing a baby and meeting deadlines for 2/3 books!
And deadlines are getting closer by the day so the pressure is definitely hotting up!

So i'm taking a liberty and going to show you a couple of characters i am working on for one of my books - very exciting and wish i could show you more - but you know how it is! Once stuff gets published i can probably put more info up here for you to look at! But for now, i hope you enjoy these little fellas!

:)

C

New editorial...

2011-05-05T11:23:00.004+01:00

for Families First magazine.

They Draw and Cook

2011-05-03T16:30:00.008+01:00

www.theydrawandcook.com

So here is a look at my first ever attempt to jump on board the 'They Draw and Cook' wagon, and what a wagon to be on! It encorporates two of my biggest loves in life! So here we are then, my brownie recipe (why is that such a hard work to get right?!) with some close up bits of it, as the dimentions are quite long. If you make it, let me know how it goes? Works for me every time...

Hi everyone...

2011-04-26T13:12:00.006+01:00

...i'd like to apologise for the quietness on the blog front - and here are my reasons.

1. I have lots of work.
2. I contractually, on the whole, can't post said work on the blog.
3. Because of all the work i have no time to produce other work to post on the blog.
4. Therefore, i am left in a catch 22.

SO, to rectify this, I am taking a gamble and am presenting you with a koala on a bike, from a book i'm working on in America. Sadly only the book, not I, will be IN America. I hope you enjoy, and are all making the very most of the sun and, quite frankly, ridiculous amount of bank holidays we seem to have stumbled across :)

Over and out x

Oooh, it's something new to look at!

2011-04-11T11:27:00.006+01:00

Here's the cover for 'Where's Polo Neck', a story about a very naughty little lamb who goes astray from his flock, until his dad finds him and brings him home.
You can find out more about the charity 'Blazing Glory' HERE
(Which will take you to the page of the last book I illustrated for them BELOW)

HOME exhibition

2011-04-07T15:21:00.003+01:00

I am one of 50 British Illustrators exhibiting in this show. Pop along and have a gander!

HOME. Travelling Motionless.

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 - Sat, 11 Jun 2011
This exhibition explores discontinuities, personal schisms and varying timescales via the tactile medium of the artists’ book. Travelling Motionless is an invitation to share the personal and universal journey between childhood memory and adult epiphany. A hands-on exhibition that celebrates the book as a medium of discovery and revelation.

"Jonathan Ward's artists' books display playful ingenuity, sensual textures and intimate scale." Victoria Browne - Founder of KALEID editions

http://www.quayarts.org/event.aspx?id=3149

Michael West Gallery,
Quay Arts
Sea Street,
Newport Harbour
ISLE OF WIGHT PO30 5BD

You might like to see...

2011-04-06T16:54:00.003+01:00

...our little miracle.

I'm also convinced he/she is holding a paintbrush. What do you think??!

A Little news...

2011-04-04T14:03:00.003+01:00

Firstly, i'm loving these cartoons (pop over to everyday people cartoons for more!)

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you may already know, but on top of my regular illustrating shennanigans, I am also cooking a baby in my tummy! Me and the Hubbaroo are VERY excited and are looking forward to meeting him or her in October!
Feeling much like the cartoon lady right now - not much to see yet.
Give it a couple more months though and i'll be a whale.

grumbly tumbly

2011-04-01T13:29:00.001+01:00

Screenprints and Giclee's FOR SALE!

2011-03-31T09:58:00.003+01:00

Pop over to my etsy, i've just re-listed a load of giclees and screenprints for your purchasing pleasure!
A couple of the giclees now have frames included with them for a little extra pocket money.

CHARLOTTE COOKE on ETSY

These prints are beautiful and i hope someone/people find it in their hearts to give these lovely prints a loving home :)

I know they are mine, but the cupcake screenprint really is lovely, and so much love went into it, with something like 24 hand pulled colours!
It was truly a labour of LOVE! Have a closer look below...

Bright sheep

2011-03-30T09:33:00.003+01:00

Some news and a couple of piggy's...

2011-03-23T16:17:00.004Z

Very exciting - my publisher Child's Play have just re launched their website, which looks awesome, and i have my very own profile. Check it out HERE. The Talkative Tortoise is all done and uploaded and is currently getting the text added for the dummy for Bologna!

I'm hoping one day i'll get to go along, but as of now i'm kind of strapped for cash and i get the impression it's not cheap out there! Here's to next year?!

The book i'm working on at the moment, 'Where's Polo Neck' is going very well, i'm steaming ahead with the pencil roughs, so thought i'd add another snippet for you here.

All things new...

2011-03-17T11:54:00.003Z

So here we are! One book ends and another begins! This week i will have finished 'The Talkative Tortoise' for Child's Play, and am starting the next book with Blazing Glory (see THIS earlier post). Here is a little preview of the first page!

Twit twoooooooooo

2011-03-14T13:04:00.000Z

And in colour...

2011-03-11T10:26:00.000Z

Here is the coloured version of yesterday's ink creation! Enjoy!

A new drawing!

2011-03-10T12:34:00.004Z

Having a go with the ink today, although my knibs and holder are rubbish - the knibs just dissappear inside the handle, and my ink isn't waterproof! Time for a little material shop i think. Anyone recommend a good holder/knib for pen and ink?

THANK YOU!

2011-03-09T15:51:00.002Z

Happy Valentine's...

2011-02-14T17:05:00.001Z

Whisper and Shout

2011-02-11T16:06:00.007Z

So here is one of my first books for Wayland (the cover will look something like this.)
I finished a couple of weeks ago now, It was crazy doing two books at once but i managed to get this one done in just under 6 weeks. Pretty proud of that. You can pre-order the book HERE.

My other book is almost done, i can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Not for long though. As soon as i finish, i'm onto the next project!

Newsies...

2011-02-01T11:02:00.005Z

Hello There!!

I am still alive!
Just got so much work on I've had to put most things on the backburner. Annoyingly i'm producing alot of work it's just I can't post it here due to contract etc... But here is a little something I started working on for a cover, but then never got used.

Also, a very exciting job i've possibly got on in the next couple months is for the CBeebies bedtime hour, 'Driver Dan's Story Train'. I have been selected to possibly produce illustrations for the story part of the programme. You can see exactly what I might be doing HERE.

EXCITING!!!

Twitteriffic

2011-01-21T09:47:00.002Z

in other news...

2011-01-20T11:14:00.003Z

Things are pretty full on here. This is why i keep forgetting to send birthday cards and brush my teeth in the morning... So here is another thing i've over looked, the finished, printed article of the woolly jumper book. It's so pretty!

Miss June...

2011-01-20T10:32:00.009Z

Just call me Miss June...

Here i am in the Bright Agency's 2011 desktop calendar. In the beautiful month of june.
Already sharpie-d in my hubbaroo's 29th bday on there. What a lucky man. He even stars in this piccy, he's the one loitering directly behind me.
The boys are all my studio mates, and work for a company called The Design Collective. I have desk space here and it's a LOT of fun. And serious work, of course.

I'm honoured to be included in the calendar considering i'm still a newbie, and count myself in good company amongst the likes of Mark Chambers (@markAchambers), Rebecca Elliott (@BecElliott), Rachel Clowes and Ag Jatkowska, only to name a few. Check them all out! Some awesome talent here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-05T16:15:00.002Z

to all my lovely followers, and to the newcomers - WELCOME!!

Illustration Friday

2010-12-23T10:22:00.002Z

Mail

Books, books, books

2010-12-21T13:56:00.003Z

I'm so crazy busy right now!

I've got two books on at the moment, one you can pre-order here:
The Talkative Tortoise - Child's Play

And the other here:
Whisper and Shout - Wayland

VERY exciting. But i'm most excited about starting the book i illustrated for my final year of degree, which will be published by Meadowside, and we begin work in July! Wahooooo!

For contractual reasons, i can't really post any work until the books are published, but believe me i'm working hard!

Illustration Friday

2010-12-15T16:12:00.003Z

Phenomenon of being in love. awwwww...

Now i've sent them...

2010-12-15T10:55:00.003Z

...I can show you all my christmas cards designs for 2010. If I love you, you've got one coming!

Pretty Yurty

2010-12-08T15:01:00.003Z

A lovely yurt - this guy was a bit elaborate for the spread, but i thought it would be sad to waste him, so here you go.
Also wanted to make sure you all knew i was still alive and working!

Savour

2010-11-29T11:36:00.003Z

I thought i'd try and get on this Illustration Friday train and despite not having the time for the last two weeks, i'm going to do it this week.
The topic is savour, so what better than one of these bad boys?

Card design sample

2010-11-17T15:36:00.003Z

Tried out a new approach here, using only my pencil drawing and then digitally coloured it up.

I've done it!

2010-11-17T11:02:00.003Z

Here's me with my wonderful coursemate Kirsty Thatcher. (i'm the really short one!)

Treehouse

2010-11-15T17:16:00.004Z

I'm working on some designs for greetings cards at the moment with Emily from the Bright Agency, alongside starting the illustrations for my first book The Talkative Tortoise, which looks like its release date is May 2011 - according to Amazon! I stumbled across this today and it made me feel the fear!!! Luckily i'm already on it and have sent off the first pass of thumbnails to the publisher today.

Autumn colours...

2010-11-10T15:17:00.004Z

or this one with more trees in the b/g, looks a bit colder here, brrrrrrrrr...

My Weekend...

2010-11-07T16:24:00.003Z

...I had a weekend with two of my best girls and our men (and one baby).
It was awesome so i wanted to involve you in the awesomeness.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Did i miss autumn??

2010-11-05T16:08:00.002Z

if so, here is my redemption...

Colour sample...

2010-11-03T09:58:00.003Z

I feel like i've been doing loads of samples recently (which is great!) and i've got two book deals so far which is so incredible and makes me so proud of myself for working hard at uni and all that stress i underwent for those three years!

This little boy is a shepherd looking for one of his sheep that has gone missing (not the one in his lap!). Got to get this off to the publisher today, so fingers crossed!!!

I'll leave you with this...

2010-10-28T17:28:00.002+01:00

New sketchy sketches

2010-10-28T12:08:00.007+01:00

(a little test with my watercolours - they've not been out for a long time!)

Exciting news!

2010-10-27T15:50:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone who likes my blog.

We have some very exciting news here at CCI HQ.
In the last few days I have aquired TWO book deals with different publishers!
The first is with Meadowside, who are publishing the children's book i made for my degree with my mum. So we will have a book out together! that is a double whammy for me.

And secondly I am working for Child's Play (not chucky ha ha ha) - illustrating a lovely text which is a traditional tale re written by Andrew Fusek Peters. Below is the first sample i sent off to Child's Play, we've got a long way to go from here though.

eeeeee!

Sheep in a tree

2010-10-26T10:29:00.002+01:00

Some sheep in a tree for a sample i'm working on. Tee Hee!

THANK YOU!

2010-10-15T10:48:00.000+01:00

Woolly Jumper is nearly done!

2010-10-14T16:56:00.003+01:00

Front and back pages were finished today and all the inside spreads i've been working on are finished.
I have three inside spreads left to do and then it's all finished!

I've loved working on this, but it's great i'm almost done as some serious work is coming my way with a few publishers.

Watch this space!

Farmyard March...

2010-10-08T11:57:00.002+01:00

I want to be a...

2010-10-04T16:48:00.006+01:00

Starting an idea here and using more of a solid colour base with my acrylics, mixed with my pastel pencils too.
I have played with a few versions, three for you to see here.

I took a little inspiration for my red plane from my lovely fellow illustrator Mithi.
You can see hers on the wall in this post HERE.

Brightening the pallette...

2010-10-01T14:59:00.004+01:00

Serious design candy

2010-09-30T10:14:00.004+01:00

I know this isn't a relatively new design, but i just wanted to declare my love for the Clipper tea boxes.
One day I would LOVE to design some packaging like this. Simple yet elegant, but packs a punch to the eyes.

Designed by the people over at BIG FISH, these boxes get me everytime - and I find I want to purchase every type, and i'm not usually a believer of what is on the outside counts. But in this case...I'm very VERY shallow.

(Also this sleepy tea is soooo good...)

And while we're on the subject, Puccino's stuff is awesome too. Have a look at the photostream HERE.

Danger lurks in the valley...

2010-09-28T12:44:00.004+01:00

More woolly...

2010-09-24T15:54:00.002+01:00

Animal characters...

2010-09-23T12:37:00.005+01:00

This image is another spread i am working on for the Woolly Jumper story.

...and it's made up of all of these guys...

More Woolly...

2010-09-21T11:15:00.000+01:00

Woolly Jumper progress...

2010-09-14T16:30:00.003+01:00

A very tired sheep...

2010-09-09T17:17:00.001+01:00

...and a full day at the studio finished for me.
It's amazing how working in the right environment can increase your productivity.

I LOVE WORK!

Workies...

2010-09-08T13:58:00.005+01:00

I am now represented by the lovely people over at The Bright Agency, so i'm looking forward to seeing what they throw my way, but in the meantime, now settled and moved in to Kent, I am working on The Tale of Woolly Jumper for a private client. And it's shaping up quite nicely I think!...

A little sketch I knocked up last week amongst boxes and chaos...

Moving Day...

2010-09-03T17:48:00.001+01:00

...is tomorrow and i'm feeling a little like this...

... i promise i'll be back to a fully functioning human being in a couple of weeks.
Hopefully with broadband.

Teenagers...

2010-08-24T09:52:00.001+01:00

When I grow up...

2010-08-17T18:17:00.000+01:00

I wish I was feeling like these guys!

2010-08-11T18:17:00.001+01:00

Upping Sticks...

2010-08-10T18:26:00.004+01:00

So myself and the Hubbaroo are officially moving to Kent. We've taken the plunge, taken a step in the dark, a leap of faith, taking a risk, going out on a limb etc and are going to start a new life in the East. Completely the other side of the country.
Why are you going there? you may ask? Well, for one, it is an up and coming area (we're going to Ramsgate), i get to (hopefully) share a design studio with a lot of talented people, and my Hubby is going to find a job that makes him smile everyday, instead of smelling of coffee and having sore feet (he's currently a restaurant manager.)

So I wanted to check in, i'm still here, still working, but in slight suspension and transit for the next few weeks. You can get me still, but I might be like a tiny snail getting back to you.

LOVE!

Printsy Interview

2010-08-03T14:02:00.002+01:00

I have been featured on this month's printsy interview.
Pop over there and have a read about me and my work.

Charlotte Cooke Printsy Interview August 2010

New Work

2010-08-03T13:25:00.003+01:00

I have recently taken on a few new commissions, one of which is a comic-y booklet for 4-6 year olds for a christian charity about a sheep. So great to get my teeth into a new project, and i'll put a few bits from that on here.

I have been really busy recently with quite a few trips to our lovely capital, to meet with publishers and agents... it's all go go go here. So much work and decisions to make. I LOVE IT!

Also, my screen print set up was delivered yesterday by my wonderful ex-tutor, Dave Fortune. If you are looking for a set up, you really can't find a nicer guy to help you do it. Just got to get a coating trough and i'll be away!

Book Pages

2010-07-20T19:04:00.004+01:00

Here is a selection of spreads from my children's book.

New Moo

2010-07-20T16:44:00.000+01:00

Ruth's Invites

2010-07-20T16:41:00.001+01:00

The blog is evolving...

2010-07-16T10:57:00.003+01:00

As I am now a fully fledged professional illustrator i thought it time to tidy up my blog with a fresh look. Hope you like it - feel free to have a look around.

Invitation Design

2010-07-04T21:04:00.004+01:00

It is one of my very best friend's birthday next month and she asked me to design her a postcard invitation.

It was my absolute pleasure to do this, (I designed her business cards and blog a while ago) and it got me out of show mode, which was nice. Speaking of which, our final degree show is going up tomorrow, so it's off on the choo choo in the morning to the big smoke, and staying for a couple of days to meet with some publishers - ooooh exciting!!!

Happy Birthday Ruth!!!

Grab one of these...

2010-06-24T19:23:00.004+01:00

If you popped along to my degree show in Bristol - HELLO! Thank you for coming by, this probably means you picked up one of my postcards which looks like this:

If you are intending to come to the Coningsby Gallery, then look out for my card - it has all my important details on it, so if you are there, pick one up and put it on your fridge/desk/sister's cereal (this is actually not advised as it may get a bit soggy!)

Degree Shows...

2010-06-24T19:18:00.002+01:00

...have been up all this week and sadly come down tomorrow.
But you still have a chance to catch a more condensed show at the Coningsby Gallery in London, from the 5th-10th July. (details in sidebar)

People dressed up as vegetables riding bikes...

2010-06-24T19:06:00.004+01:00

For an editorial of course...

The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat FOR SALE!!!

2010-06-13T13:58:00.007+01:00

Hello Everyone.

So i now have in my possession my books! Which means i can now officially offer them to you at the very reasonable price of £15.
I have 15 copies for sale so if you want one, be quick!
(I would like to have offered it for less but my degree costs are through the roof and so i'm trying to make some money back!).
So here you have it.

32 page children's book, full colour, saddle stitched (for those uneducated in print speak that is the little staple style binding) with a 320gsm cover.

If you'd like a copy, please email me at charlotte@charlottecookeillustration.com.

Here are some pictures of what you would be owning! ENJOY!

it's all happening...

2010-06-09T20:43:00.002+01:00

It's stressful but it's bringing us all together, and i'm loving it. been into uni everyday this weeks so far and although the end is so nearly here, there is an awful lot left to do... i'm waiting to get my book back (tomorrow) my giclee prints (friday) and some more portfolio prints (friday). Also need to make up books with my book covers, which i won't have until friday or monday eek!. We'll all be in our worst clothes on friday/saturday painting our exhibition space, leaving it to dry on sunday and then up goes our work.
So, as a participant of this multimedia society we live in, i have taken pics on my iPhone today, and have been updating my twitter with regular information! Here's a couple of phone pics. First we have all my mounts - and the one piece i have to mount until i get my prints back, and my characters BIG on foamboard.

It's FINISHED (Part 2!)

2010-05-30T20:40:00.003+01:00

So earlier I was exclaiming that i had finished the book but not quite the cover.
Well on reflection I decided the old cover wasn't what i wanted anymore - so I re jigged it, along with the title page, and just because I love you all, I have decided to post them both here.

I am getting the book made up - a very small edition mind you, but if you are interested in having a copy of your own, get in touch. I will probably put a handful on my Etsy site when they have materialised.

C

IT'S FINISHED!

2010-05-30T00:14:00.002+01:00

I just thought i'd let you all know that i have finally finished the adventures book!
Phew!
Just having a little look at the cover again, then it's off to print - hopefully will be all done for my show... not long to go now and i'll be a fully fledged PROFESSIONAL!

Degree Shows...

2010-05-27T10:14:00.003+01:00

Here, courtesy of my incredibly talented and knowledgeable friend Mithi, is all the information about ALL of the shows I am in over the next 5 or so weeks. Please come on down if you can make any of them.

PRIVATE VIEW (invitation only)

Friday 18 June 18.00-21.00

GENERAL OPENING

Saturday 19 June 10.00-18.00

Sunday 20 June 10.00-16.00

Monday 21-Thursday 24 June 10.00-20.00

We are also going to be in LONDON twice:

D&AD New Blood 2010
(With Graphic Design, and a limited show)
The Old Truman Brewery
15 Hanbury Street
London E1 6QL

Industry Private View on Thursday 24th June 2010
Continues until Monday 28th June 2010
10am to 6pm daily

And the Coningsby Gallery,
(Just illustration so more substantial show than D&AD - but smaller than UWE show)
30 Tottenham Street
London W1T 4RJ

Private View on Monday 5th July 2010 (6:30-9pm)
Continues until 9th July 2010
10am to 6pm daily

Please come and see us!!!

Nearly there...

2010-05-23T00:13:00.003+01:00

Well, the good news is i've almost finished the Owl and the Pussy-Cat book! Yay! Sadly, I still have a tonne of other stuff to do too in the next 3/4 weeks. A LOT of printing = £!, binding, cutting, mounting, painting, photoshoping, saving, late nights, tweaking, crying, sweating, freaking out... and i have to fit all this in.

I will not miss this.

I want a job now please!

As I am beavering behind the scenes... here is a little treat. A double page spread from the book that I've never posted before, oooooooooooooh...

Advice taken...

2010-05-19T23:11:00.006+01:00

Hello Everyone.

So I've been finishing off my spreads for The Adventures book for my degree show. Boy, it takes while for me to feel happy with them... But i've been working on one tonight and the art is pretty finished, but I have a dilemma...

Should the text on the right side be over or under the puffin?

Answers on a postcard please...

YOU ANSWERED - I LISTENED! Over wins the day!
(Also some tweaks have occurred!)

Macmillan Children's Book Prize - LONDON!

2010-05-18T10:02:00.003+01:00

Last night, Andy and I got back from our trip to London town for the Macmillan Prize shin-dig. Got me a fancy certificate which will be framed and put on my wall! And some free wine, and nibbles, and a name badge!
But most of all I got to meet some incredibly important people.
I had a wonderful chat with illustrator Emily Gravett, and got to speak with some lovely women from the Children's book team who want to see some more of my work.

So back to London I shall go. It all starts here. Hopefully...

So as promised, here are a couple of photos from the event. My dummy book which was displayed along with another 7 or so, and me with my certificate, exhibited piece and a rather awestruck smile on my face.

Remember, the show is up until Friday I believe so if you're in London, pop over to Foyle's Bookshop Gallery, on Charing Cross Road. It's on the top floor at the back.

New MOO Cards...

2010-05-14T11:26:00.005+01:00

...I thought as i'm up in London on monday for the Macmillan Prize ceremony/opening of the exhibition, that I should get some more business cards printed with the designs from the book on them - as recommended by MOO - so that when you give one to people they will remember who you are as your work is there with your details to remind them. Pretty clever really.

Now, the annoying thing is that I must have not left enough of a bleed on the measurements because alot of them have this greyish line at the top.

Reaaaaaally frustrating, but I don't have time to send them back and get new ones before monday. C'est la vie - they still look pretty sweet.

CHELTENHAM FINISHED!!!

2010-05-13T13:24:00.002+01:00

Cheltenham Illustration

2010-05-12T23:21:00.002+01:00

This is the image i am working on for the Cheltenham Illustration Award - not sure if it'll be done in time - deadline is friday - eek!

Yarrrrrrrrrr...

2010-05-07T14:05:00.005+01:00

I am currently beavering away to get my children's book finished in time for the degree shows/assesment... I only have a few spreads left to go but I am finding them so hard! I don't know if it's because I've been looking at this for months or i'm just worried it won't look as good as what i've done so far... but it's stressful!

I'm also working on a few editorial pieces for a couple of competitions, but will post that work once it's been entered.

Here is the latest spread i've finished...

and a pirate for another...

Bubbaloo Photography

2010-05-06T15:24:00.004+01:00

It gives me great honour to let you all know that Bubbaloo Photography are back in the UK and taking bookings!
My very good friend Hermione and her wonderful hubby Gary are Bubbaloo Photography - the company I branded last year. They have just launched their new website with contact details and price lists, along with a gallery section - make sure you have a look - they're VERY talented!

Also, if you are looking for branding, logo design or the whole shebang - give me an email and we'll see what we can do for your business.

Bubbaloo Photography

Macmillan Children's Book Prize

2010-05-03T18:04:00.004+01:00

I am extremely excited and tres proud to say that my book 'The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat' has been highly commended for the Macmillan Children's Book Prize!

I really can't believe how lucky I am to have been chosen from hundreds of very talented people - and although I would have LOVED to win one of the top prizes (being very competitive...!) I am over the moon to have this incredible opportunity to get my work seen by the Children's book publishing industry.
One piece of my work will be chosen for the highly commended and winner's exhibition, which will be displayed in Foyle's Gallery in Foyle's Bookshop in Charing Cross for a week (ish) from the 18th May.

Go and have a LOOK!!!!

I got this through today...

2010-04-29T11:53:00.004+01:00

Remember this?(click me!)

Here is the Families First magazine with the editorial I did last month. Have just recently sent off the next one for the next issue - will put that up when it arrives in july.

Very exciting for me - my first magazine editorial! eee!