Pink Plastic Princesses in development

These are the little Pink Plastic Princesses in development. Starting with dip pen and ink, then coloured with water colour. I found it quite hard when it came to adding the colour to this one, I liked the black and white effect, but I'm happy I got the guts in the end. Soon there will be prints of this one on sale at the Harding House gallery on the gorgeous Steep Hill in Lincoln (voted best place last year!). 

Josephine's Birds

One of my dearest friends Lills gave birth to the beautiful bouncing baby Josephine on January 15th. This is a little illustration I did just for her, Josephine's Birds... Welcome to the world Josephine, I can't wait to meet you!

Little Pigs, Little Pigs... Please let me in!

This is a little sneaky peak at my work in development. The top picture is the initial dip pen and ink stage. I love to use an old mapping pen, sometimes it has a mind of it's own, and creates unintentional splats and markings. This is why I enjoy working with it, I like to surprise myself! After the ink has dried, I then begin to add the colour. I prefer to use water-colours. I tend to use too much water at the beginning, so the paint becomes (like the mapping pens unintentional ink splots) uncontrollable. I then rework the painting, adding light, shade and playing with texture and pattern.

Sailboats

This is another addition to my collection of seaside illustrations, only this time from the perspective of the local. I wanted to capture the serene nature of a seaside town in the morning. Soft blue light hanging over the town, the stillness of the water, only a couple of early birds are awake to see it. We can see their fire smoke beginning to emerge from their chimneys. Imagine them warming their hands by the fire, their porridge simmering on the stove, preparing themselves for a long day out at sea.

Christmas Pigeon Post

Ever wondered how your letters to Santa get delivered each year? Well, you know all the little pigeons that are nesting up in your chimney? They've been waiting all year long ready for their big moment. When christmas time approaches, and you've thought long and hard about what you'd like Santa to bring and written him a long letter. The pigeons swoop down, scroll up your letter and fly it all the way to the north pole... But little children seem to want more and more and more each year, so the poor little pigeons are beginning to struggle. So next time you see a pigeon scrounging around for a fallen chip or scrap of bread, and if you happen to be munching on a hot sausage roll or a cornish pastry, or anything just as tasty, throw some down for the poor little fella. They need their energy for the christmas delivery flight!

Brigade

This is a little illustration I did just yesterday for 'Illustration Friday'. The theme was 'Brigade'. I really wanted to experiment with the body movements of the characters and how they would interact with the pole.

Sarah and Sam

This is a commission I did for my beautiful friend Sarah. She has the most gorgeous porcelain skin, and quirky purple hair, and has agreed to let me paint her again (YAY!). She makes a fantastic leading lady. Sam's hair was great to paint. I love painting guys with lots of hair, you can achieve so much expression with each stroke of the brush.