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Liam O'FarrellA personal celebration of ordinariness

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Tatler illustration of the Chief Whip

An illustration of The Whips’ Office for Tatler Magazine

Jun 13 1 Comment

I was recently commissioned to produce an illustration for Tatler magazine. The piece accompanied a fun and informative article about the history of the Whips’ Office and its current role in Parliament. The article featured the Labour Chief Whip, Sir Alan Campbell, “whipping in” party members—represented as hounds—into the Aye Lobby in the House ofRead more…

Painting Pig's head pub in Clapham

An illustration of The Pig’s Head Pub in Clapham, London

Oct 19 No Comments

I was recently commissioned to produce an illustration for a newly refurbished pub in Clapham in south London. Like many pubs in recent times it has been through a few reincarnations and the new owners were going to create a high-end gastropub and rename the pub “The Pig’s Head”. This painting is available as aRead more…

Flower Gardening for Beginners blog

Illustrations for the book Flower Gardening for Beginners

Sep 17 No Comments

Earlier this year I was asked to illustrate a book on flower gardening. I rather enjoy painting flowers as there are so many varieties. With this kind of work comes different challenges around colour, tone and structure. The one thing they all have in common however is delicacy. It’s a real challenge to make themRead more…

Growing mushrooms for beginners front cover

Illustrating Growing Mushrooms for Beginners

Feb 16 2 Comments

I often get asked to paint book and magazine covers, but rarely whole books. When books do come along its difficult to guess what they might be, so I was much intrigued when asked to illustrate a book on cultivating mushrooms. My knowledge of mushrooms I have to say that I know absolutely nothing aboutRead more…

Woodbridge Prep School Map combined

Illustrated Aerial Views Woodbridge School in Suffolk

Dec 21 No Comments

“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” To me, this quote is the quote of 2020, we are living through a pandemic so businesses must quickly learn to adapt to the challenges of the ‘new normal’. In normal circumstances a school would hold open days to meet parents and potentialRead more…

A FREE video to help you take up drawing & painting at home and on a budget

A FREE video to help you take up drawing & painting at home on a budget

Apr 15 9 Comments

Please share if you feel it would be of use to another   Discover a new world inside. As a painter, much of my life is spent in ‘self-isolation’ anyway so its not much different for me. But for those of you getting bored or in need of some creative distraction, I have put thisRead more…

Sipsmith Gin Illustration

Illustrations for A Sipsmith Gin Summer Campaign

Jul 16 1 Comment

The Sipsmith Gin company contacted me during the last days of winter to work on a summer campaign for their new Gin & Tonic in a can. The Sipsmith Gin & Tonic concept The initial idea was to create a scene which encompassed a number outdoor activities we may undertake during the Summer months andRead more…

Illustration of Augusta National Golf Club

Illustration map of The Augusta National Golf Club, USA

May 09 2 Comments

Download the map of the Augusta course here Visit my online art shop here!   Recently, I was commissioned to illustrate the Augusta National Golf Club and course in Augusta, Georgia for Golf Monthly magazine. I really enjoy producing maps. It appeals the “detail nut” inside me and I rather looked forward to it. ARead more…

Painting of Friers Square London

Illustrations of London and Manchester for a rebrand

Sep 26 4 Comments

I was recently commissioned by KW Wealth, an independent wealth management firm, to help illustrate their rebrand. The background to the story… Recognising that the financial industry is fragmented and can often seem unapproachable, my brief was to capture the human face of KW Wealth. Almost all their clients are seen face to face asRead more…

Tin pan Alley film poster

A poster for a film about Denmark Street ‘Tin Pan Alley’

Jul 25 1 Comment

A while back, whilst on my travels through London I noticed demolition work going on around Denmark Street. It appeared that developers had already knocked down a fair bit on Earmshaw Street, and behind the buildings on Denmark Street too. Even though ‘development’ is becoming ever more commonplace I have to say it was allRead more…

Voodoo Doughnut bar in Portland Oregon

Illustration in FT Weekend Magazine of The Voodoo Doughnut bar in Portland Oregon

Apr 23 6 Comments

I was commissioned to do an illustration ofThe Voodoo Doughnut bar in Portland Oregon for the FT Weekend Magazine. I’d love to say I was shipped over there business class to sit outside to paint the place on site with a few beers thrown in. Nope, it was painted here in Pilton Somerset via goodRead more…

BBC Countryfile wildlife Illustration

An illustration for BBC Countryfile Magazine featuring SmartPhone’s nature Apps

Aug 15 3 Comments

BBC Countryfile Magazine contacted me again to produce another illustration based on using SmartPhones to track down, and conserve wildlife. Can technology bring us closer to nature? As a species, for the first time in our history, we have become networked. We carry phones. We check our status updates. We share videos of our friends andRead more…

Kite illustration fro Countryfile

An illustration for the BBC CountryFile Magazine

Jun 28 1 Comment

I was pleased to be invited to contribute an illustration to July’s issue of the BBC Countryfile Magazine. “If you love the great British countryside and the great outdoors, you’ll love BBC Countryfile Magazine. Based on the long-running BBC One TV series, this monthly magazine is packed with the latest countryside news, outdoor activities, theRead more…

Architectural illustration

Architectural illustration to help create a successful bid for over 100 homes

Mar 20 No Comments

I worked with the Architects Woodside Park Commercial Centre to help put together a successful bid by providing architectural illustration to build a residential park with over 100 dwellings. WPCC felt that if they were to make a successful bid, then they needed to propose initial designs that were sympathetic to the current environment. ARead more…

illustration of a laboratory

An illustration commission of a modern laboratory

Jan 25 4 Comments

I was commissioned by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the USA to illustrate a laboratory for their annual newsletter. Rather than just text and figures, they wanted to develop a colourful image that best personified the organisation. The idea being that they would feature their modern laboratories showing a hi-tech, busy environment withRead more…

illuistraton of vegetables for packaging

Illustrating packaging for quality ready meals in Ireland

Nov 01 No Comments

During the rather short summer, I was asked to illustrate a selection of vegetables for the packaging of a selection of quality ready meals by ‘Pure Kitchen’ in Ireland. About Pure Kitchen “We craft handmade meals from the best quality, locally sourced ingredients for you to enjoy at home or in the office. We takeRead more…

A painting of Goodwood Revival festival

A painting commission of The Goodwood Revival Festival

Jul 28 1 Comment

I was commissioned by one of the people involved in the Goodwood Revival festival to paint a scene which gives a flavour of the festival. You can buy this painting as a limited edition print here What is the Goodwood Revival festival? “From 1948 to 1966 the Goodwood circuit was the spiritual home of BritishRead more…

Painting of st marys works Norwich

An illustration of St Mary’s Works in Norwich

Apr 21 No Comments

I was approached by the architect developer Architekton to help them illustrate their ideas in the development of St Mary’s Works in Norwich. An ideal job for me as my pencils and brushes can get to work on great architecture and community living. What is St Mary’s Works? St Mary’s Works is located in whatRead more…

A painting of tropical fish

Painting fish for ‘Pets at Home’ Magazine

Apr 23 13 Comments

Sometimes I am commissioned to illustrate something that I know absolutely nothing about. That said, however, you have to learn very fast when it comes to specialist subjects because the client is quick to point out all your howling errors. I was asked to illustrate three groups of fish in in three separate illustrations for ‘Pets atRead more…

Painting of a Mod on a Vespa

A painting of a Mod on a Vespa

Feb 22 No Comments

I had this commission to paint a scooter rider for a client’s husbands birthday. It seemed a simple at first. Just do a rider on a scooter I said to myself. Simple. How wrong was I! This first scooter I did was a  Lamberetta which of course was totally not what was needed. A VespaRead more…

A political cartoon illustrating the key parties’ views on rural issues

Jan 04 No Comments

I was asked to develop a political cartoon illustrating each of the main parties’ manifestos with regard to the rural areas of Britain. The page it entitled: ‘With the General Election looming, we ask four of the main parties why rural property owners should vote for them’ Developing the cartoon We developed the cartoon toRead more…

political cartoon

A political cartoon on Scottish Independence

Aug 06 No Comments

Should we stay or should we go? Scots politicians clash I was asked to produce a political cartoon to illustrate an article on the up and coming Scottish Independence Vote. The article features a series of questions put to Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives and Conservative MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) forRead more…

painting of a cat

Painting cats is pretty fun and I dont mind admitting it

Jun 19 No Comments

I was commissioned recently to paint four cats owned by one of my clients. Initially she just wanted simple portraits for the wall. I however wanted to give it a bit more and suggested we do something around their personalities and have them in individual chairs too to add a bit of interest. Once agreedRead more…

Illustration of Dubai

A few illustration pieces for a client in Dubai

Mar 26 3 Comments

The Client MEED is a magazine based in the Middle East and I am commissioned on occasion to do covers for them. We have been working together for about a year now and the work is mainly architectural. I have been amazed at the wide range of different architectural styles that there are in thatRead more…

How Illustrating articles on food poisoning can make you sick!

Nov 25 No Comments

I was recently asked to do an illustration for a magazine article on food poisoning. The idea being that it is easy to think that only low grade produce such as van burgers and greasy kebabs are the only foods that carry harmful bacteria and viruses.  Of course the best quality foods can be equallyRead more…

Tatler Magazine illustration in watecolour of New York

I was recently commissioned to produce a double page spread for Tatler magazine in the UK

Sep 10 2 Comments

The magazine was issued on the 2nd September 2013. The brief was to advertise ‘Coach’ bags.  Coach was established in New York in 1941 and the client wanted a classic New York City montage which needed to include the Brooklyn Bridge and the Highline. It did not have to be geographically accurate as this was not forRead more…

Illustration of Dubai in watercolour

Some architectural illustration examples and a great testimonial from the client

Aug 22 No Comments

  I have recently been illustrating for ‘MEED’ – the business magazine focusing on the Middle East.   As an example of how the modern world works; I am in rural Somerset, England and this particular client is based thousands of miles away in Dubai. We work together entirely over the net as sadly theRead more…

Liam at art show

Scrapbook Live exhibition Thursday 9th May

May 16 No Comments

I was recently invited to exhibit at the Scrap Book Live event organised by IllustrationX at The Griffin Gallery in London. It was a great night which included live portrait painting by Sarah Beetson and some great calligraphy demonstrations too. Exhibiting my work next to such great talent is always a bit of worry thoughRead more…

Dubai Airports illustration

An illustration comission for The Celebration of Dubai Airports 2013

Apr 01 2 Comments

I was recently asked to illustrate a cover for ‘The Celebration of Dubai Airports 2013’ brochure cover. I used to do technical illustration in the pre computer days and this piece is a bit of a throwback to that.   It was very enjoyable to do despite the request for ‘next day delivery’. I stayed upRead more…

A profile and scrapbook about me

Jul 28 No Comments

My illustrators agent IllustrationX have out a quick scrapbook together about me and my work. They asked a number of questions and a selection of which they posted on their site. If you have five minutes spare than do have a look.  

Illustration web image

I have recently joined the Illustrationweb Illustration agency

Apr 29 4 Comments

I have recently joined the IllustrationX Illustration agency. They are a great bunch of people and have offices in London, New York, Paris, Hamburg and Shanghai.   “We have been representing leading illustrators since 1929 which makes us the world’s most established illustration agency”   I am really looking forward to working with them andRead more…

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Latest Painting Stories

  • Walking tour and painting cookham 2 A video of my walking and painting tour of Cookham in Berkshire
  • St Leonard’s Church, and Clerks House Shoreditch A painting of St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch to win in my next newsletter sent on the 5th-Sept-2025
  • A talk on art at the Westbury Festival A talk on art at The Westbury Festival, Somerset

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