Tag: art

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Niki Naki Noo (two!)

Following on from our first book, Niki Naki Noo, Book 2 is in process….and it’s

’Niki Naki Noo Goes to School’ 

Richard and I will launch a Kickstarter campaign shortly, the book is already written and edited…

If you’d like to support the illustration and publishing process (and receive exclusive rewards in the process), the link below will take you to the Kickstarter site and you can select to be notified of the official launch in a few days time. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/955424415/niki-naki-noo-goes-to-school

#illustration #childrensbooks #kickstarter #crowdfunding #nationalyearofreading #independentpublishers

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Cuddly Trains

I’ve been lucky to have seen the prototype of the cuddly train I designed the images on for @steammuseum this week, the ‘rolling stock’ is due to arrive later this year. 
I occasionally work at the museum with school groups (that’s me training up some ‘Navvies’ to work on Brunel’s Great Western Railway).

During my time as a teacher, it was a great privilege to work with so many bright, inquisitive minds and sparkling personalities. The sessions I lead at Steam are great at getting me away from my desk and engaging with people, I’d really worry about turning into a hermit, tied to my work, otherwise!

This half term there is a ‘Signs of Spring’ hunt at Lydiard Park with some illustrations of mine on the checklist that’s available – it’s all part of the @festivaloftomorrow series of events happening around Swindon now (art exhibitions etc. check out what’s on, on their profile)

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(s)Wind in the Willows

This has been an idea in the back of my mind for a long time, so I’ve used the news about Swindon’s intended bid to become a ‘City of Culture’ as an excuse to finally bring it to realisation.

I’ve been fortunate to work for and with different creative organisations in the Swindon area and the desire is certainly there to encourage the right conditions to allow creativity to flourish. Hopefully even the fact that it’s being considered can cast a spotlight on what is already thriving in the town and places of heritage, like Lydiard.

I know I’m not the first (or certainly the last) to wax lyrical about this special place and I’ve always thought it would make a great setting for ‘Wind in the Willows’ with the beautiful house (Toad Hall), a lake for ‘Ratty’, a charming underground ice house (for ‘Mole’ to move in to) and the ‘Wild Woods’ for ‘Badger’ and the ‘Stoats’ – bigger with black on their tail + the ‘Weasels’.

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Great Expectations (and Great Rejections!)

I had the news last week that my proposed designs for Portsmouths ‘Pride of Portsmouth’ trail had been turned down, before I’d definitely be feeling quite low about this but I’ve been trying to see such an occurrence in a different light (rejection is part and parcel of the job). One of my designs was based on Charles Dickens’ work, in the process it was really inspiring to revisit some of his wonderful stories and the amazing characters he created. I chose an image from ‘Great Expectations’ as the main illustration. The moment Pip meets Abel Magwitch, a terrifying incident for Pip but something that has such a profound and far reaching effect on his entire life (no spoilers here – you’ll have to read it yourself, Marcia Williams abridged versions are a great recap). In thanks to Dickens’ inspiration one of the things that I’m embracing this year is the idea of ‘Great Rejections’ (based on the @goodshipillustration #100rejections). Finding inspiration, enjoying the process and producing work I can be proud of is what really drives me (I need to make sure I remember this!)

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Rainy Day Post

It seemed appropriate top share this with the weather as it is today. I’ve been working on this project (with the author David Atkins) since the warmer days of Autumn. It’s been interesting to look back at some of the initial ideas and designs for the story. For this project I’ve worked really closely with the client and we have had several ‘Zoom meetings’ where I’ve been able to screen share to make some real time edits and alterations. Communication with clients is a key part of what I do and in all projects there are regular meet-ups (virtual or ‘real’) to share and celebrate the progress of the project to bounce ideas off of each other. The increased availability of video conferencing has been really useful when working with clients – I’ve been able to work on projects based in the USA, India, Dubai, Ormskirk and mainland Europe to mention just a few!

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The Dandy-lion Highwayman

Inspired by my work with the Swindon Culture Collective’s “Winterfest” I put in some designs for different sculpture trails. This one based in Epping, I was taken with the myth of the ‘Dandy Highwayman’ – embodied by the tales surrounding Dick Turpin (who reportedly had his hideout in the forest). The ‘Robin Hood’ style narrative and the daring escapades make this a very exciting and engaging character (despite there only being the tiniest grain of truth in them!) I created patterns inspired by artwork from Turpin’s era (the 1700’s) as well as a nod to the song ‘Stand and Deliver’ by Adam and the Ants with the patterns on the legs of the design (click on the design for a link to the song). Alas! The design won’t be adorning the trail but instead inspired me to create the ‘Dandy-lion Highwayman above!