Hearts

I made this animation about three years ago. It was made without access to a lightbox, line tester etc - I just used my scanner and laptop. It's all scanned images or pics drawn on photoshop, so it's a wee bit clunky...but I sort of quite like it. I can't remember why I did it, or why it is about hearts. I think it was just an experiment. 

I draw hearts quite a lot, usually subconsciously, when I'm doodling - their shape is very satisfying. They take on different meanings whether you draw them softly, or raggedly, or scrawly...or at least, that's what I think. 

From my archives...Nic and Jo's Wedding Invitations

Invitation designs for my friends' wedding last year. Another set of images I didn't want to gather dust on my computer hard-drive...and the next few posts on this blog will be dedicated to an archeological dig of my portfolio.

Apple strudel and arts and crafts

Last night I met the lovely Emma Gatrill, a Brighton based musician (she sings, plays the harp and the clarinet, and probably many other things - all at once! Well, maybe...), and we had a spontaneous arts and crafts session in my bedroom, making a CD case and pocket for a demo of her album - here are the results. Not shown here is the back, onto which I attached a handmade, turquoise envelope with a secure flap to contain the CD. The drawing on the front is one I did a while ago, but spookily it looks a little like Emma. 

Have a listen to a preview of Emma's album here. 

Photographed by Amyas.

Cutting out and sticking things in good company is fun enough by itself, so what on earth could make the evening any better, I hear you ask (yes, you're asking, I know you are)? I'll tell you what - an Austrian feast, cooked up by my housemate and his girlfriend. Seven of us sitting round our stout little coffee table, chowing down on wiener schnitzel, potato salad, and home-made apple strudel with ice cream, plus quite a lot of wine, and then some coffee. Yes please! 

Magpie Walk

This is the first drawing I made for this story. I quite like but it needs developing....

A few months ago, at the end of May, I walked home up the big hill after work. It was summer, but it didn't feel warm at all - the air was thick and spongey with clouds and it was threatening to rain.  
I don't know why I felt so tired. The clouds seemed to be pressing down on my shoulders and wrapping themselves around my ankles, making each step slow and heavy. I could have fallen asleep on my feet, if only there had been some way to drift home. 
I was alone and I wished somebody was with me to pull me up that hill. 
It started to rain. Not heavy, fast rain, but the fine rain that makes lace in your hair and your clothes. 
The only way I could keep walking was to imagine a giant arm wrapped around my shoulder, somebody gently coaxing me forward. I imagined strings around my feet, and birds tugging at them as we inched upwards. It made me feel better. As I became more tired, the arm around my shoulder turned into a huge wing, like a soft, fluttering umbrella. 
Finally I reached my front door. A magpie was hopping around on the pavement. I fished around in my bag for my keys, and noticed that the rain had soaked my left side, but my right side had stayed dry. So I said 'hello' to the Magpie (it's bad luck not to); and then I said 'thank you', too, and went inside.  

The Sketchbook Project

A long, long time ago (well, it feels that way - but really it was just last year) I took part in the Sketchbook Project coordinated by Art-house Co-op. You sign up to take part, pick a theme (I picked Jackets, Blankets and Sheets), they send you a sketchbook and you have to fill it. Simple. I'd completely forgotten I'd done it, so it was nice surprise to get an e-mail telling me that my sketchbook has been digitized and is now online. You can see it here! And maybe sign up to take part in the next one while you're at it. 

Salford Degree Show and more

I've been at Salford University this week for the Graphic Design BA (Hons) degree show. Graduating students are exhibiting their work at The Hive from Wednesday June 15th, with a special industry afternoon/evening on Thursday 16th June. Anybody in Manchester should go along and see fantastic work on display from Lottie Pencheon, David Ryan Robinson and too many others to mention. Expect giant cats, plastic aeroplanes, a huge array of hand-made books and zines and creatures galore. Not to mention quality graphic design and moving image work. 

Also happening in Manchester now at Mr Thomas' Chophouse is Unleashed: The Best in the North. This is a great opportunity to see and buy artwork from some of the best undergraduate illustration students in the Northwest, including loads from Salford. 
This post is linked up to the eyeballs, so there's no excuse not to go and have a good pint and admire some splendid pics at the same time. 

WRAP!

I've got some work featured in issue two of the fantastic Wrap magazine. Go and buy it now! Not only is it a splendid mag with tons of fantastic artwork from contributors such as Gemma Correll and Carnovsky, but if you buy a copy online before the 10th of June you save 50% delivery - and you can actually USE IT AS WRAPPING PAPER WHEN YOU'VE FINISHED....I need not say any more.

Artwork by Gemma Correll

a, b, c, d...LMNOP, M.O.S.T.Y.N

More of my cards are now for sale at LMNOP shop on Montpelier Place, just off Western Road, in Brighton, and also at the Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno, North Wales.

Into The Woods

Throughout June I'm going to be selling some of my work and invigilating at pop-up shop Into The Woods on Grantham Road. The shop is curated by Mia Underwood, and has some magic stuff by lots of local artists and illustrators including Emily Warren and Lizzie Thomas. Come and say hello to me and to all the creatures and things in the shop! 

Alternative Press!

Tomorrow I'll be at the International Alternative Press Festival with Adam Moore and Jaime Carl Huxtable - Sarah Julia Clark will also be there selling her handmade lovelies. Check the link for directions and times etc. Come join in the paper/card/zine joy!