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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
“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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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. A bit about Augusta National Golf Club Augusta National Golf Club was (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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. What is the Goodwood Revival festival? “From 1948 to 1966 the Goodwood circuit was the spiritual home of British motor racing, staging classic races such (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
I thought I would do a blog on some of my illustration work I have been working on. 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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
I was recently invited to exhibit at the Scrap Book Live event organised by Illustrationweb 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 (read more…)
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 (read more…)
My illustrators agent Illustrationweb 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.
I have recently joined the Illustrationweb 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 (read more…)