New work in print - Surrey

New parenting information brochures for Surrey County Council with my handlettering/illustration.

New Work - Parents' Pages

I have been working on the Spring issue of Surrey County Council's Parents' Pages as well.

It's out now in Surrey and contains lots of my illustration and lettering. Themes range from the Olympics to Returning to work after having kids, Starting school and postnatal depression. Have a look at the complete magazine here.

New Work - Lettering for Surrey

Lettering and illustration for a new Surrey County Council publication about Children's Centres in Surrey which is to be included in a booklet that new parents receive, this is the cover.

New Work - Maps for BBC

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Maps of China, Germany and the Netherlands I made for the BBC to use in an animated programme. It was aired recently as well!

I worked with photo reference of kids and their surroundings in their home town, and in the complete film these kids appear and show us a day of their lives.

New Work - Candy Patterns

New candy store style patterns for Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine, 

out now in May's issue.

Ceremony For Maya

These are the two Jimi Hendrix songs we had playing in the chapel at Maya's Ceremony on Friday,13th April 2012. 
It was a nice funeral, held by a celebrant of the British Humanist Association.
♥

Digital Fingerpainting with Brushes for ipad

Maya and SANDS

Thank you all for your kind words and wishes on my last post!

I never posted about my pregnancy on this blog and just looked forward to the day I could announce Maya's arrival and my baby break in summer.

So, I'm making some space for her here now...

Sadly, 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth in the UK every day. It's the ultimate nightmare of any parent and nothing anyone would ever expect to happen, especially in an seemingly normal and healthy pregnancy.

When I was in hospital I found out about SANDS, a stillbirth and neonatal death charity, that supports bereaved parents and also trains hospital staff to cope in these situations.

I had a great experience in my hospital and was surrounded by supportive staff. There was a knitted pink dress available for little Maya which was made by SANDS supporters for tiny babies, there is also a SANDS box available for parents which includes 2 identical teddies, a blanket, a disposable camera and such to create memories with your baby, and to make the pain of leaving the hospital empty handed a bit better.

As I knew what was coming, I had already made my own box, it's in the picture above.

SANDS also funds medical research into why this happens and offers local support.

It's the charity of my choice if anyone feels they'd like to help, please use this link to donate as much or as little as you like,

Thank you!

For Maya

I recently went through the most awful but most beautiful experience of my life -

The stillbirth of our beautiful, perfect little baby girl, Maya Sunshine - with me forever.

Happy March - desktop calender

Hello March!

Finally, a spring month!

I have been incredibly busy but I hope to keep at least the calendars going on this blog...

Have a great Spring!

For you to download to use as a desktop wallpaper calendar.
Please note that this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Parenting editorial work

Two illustrations I did for Leben + Erziehen (Germany) March issue,

it's for an interesting feature about how to build self-confidence in shy kids without making them even more aware of their 'problem', i.e. encouragement instead of discouragement.

Happy February - Desktop Calendar

For you to download to use as a desktop wallpaper calendar.
Please note that this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Radio Times - The Enchanted Island

Radio Times have asked me to create an illustration for their Opera on 3 - Live from the Met season. Something spooky and enchanted like my Flamingo Guiterrez covers for The Enchanted Island by Jeremy Sams.

I decided to show the four shipwrecked lovers of A Midsummer Night's Dream as they land on this bizarre island, where Placido Domingo is Neptune!

It's on BBC Radio 3 tonight at 6pm.

Happy 2012 - January calendar

Hello 2012!
Have you been out stargazing on Christmas? I read a kids' book on the subject and actually spotted a few planets and Orion!

For you to download to use as a desktop wallpaper calendar.
Please note that this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Editorial work - Kids Need Bullerby

An editorial illustration I made for Leben+Erziehen, the German parenting magazine.
Great subject for me as I LOVE Bullerby and most other Astrid Lindgren stories, books and films.
This feature is about how kids can become more confident if they are allowed to have more freedom, like the Bullerby kids! And what I found particularly interesting: that activities organized by parents couldn't substitute for the loose, independent play time between kids.
Good point!

I've hidden Emil of Loenneberga in this picture, can you find him?

The Three Little Pigs + Red Riding Hood

Some new cover images of the 2 books I illustrated for Cowley Robinson Publishing.

Happy Nikolaus!

Today, the 6th of December, is St. Nikolaus Day, a big tradition in Germany in case you didn't know...:o)
I forgot to put my snow boot outside the front door last night otherwise I would have found the above this morning!

Hawaii & Kentucky

2 new states are done and available to buy as prints/framed prints/Tshirts at Society6!

December Desktop calender

Happy December!

For you to download to use as a desktop wallpaper calendar.
Please note that this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Parents' Pages - illustration + handlettering

A fantastic publication I worked on with Surrey County Council and Preface Studios is out now: Parents' Pages - winter issue (download pdf).
Below are a few of the illustrations and some of the lettering I created throughout the magazine.
I have worked with Surrey County Council before a few years ago, illustrating parenting publications and creating a logo/identity that involved more child-like handlettering.
This time the illustrations are slightly more grown-up, and some cover more serious subjects, all very interesting and worth a read!

The cover. Drawing onto photographs is something I don't do very often for commissions but which worked well within this context, a girl in a wellie-throwing contest as part of the Decathlon Feature.

The Health Check feature. Lettering and a few spot illustrations plus what I've used a few times throughout the magazine - photo collage illustration, here for Dr Mark who works in A+E.

Another very inspiring feature about childcare and learning, with Rebecca and her daughter Billie-Dee.

The Surrey Focus autumn/winter page, I will create more seasonal banners for the next issues.

One of my favourite handlettering pieces I've created in this job, see the full feature on fire safety via the pdf download link if you want.

A very touching feature about self-harm and mental health, a self-written account from daughter and father.
I used a diary style handlettering for the quote up in the sky and the whole feel and look was supposed to be similar to my Northline book jacket illustration which the commissioner really liked, and it fits well I think.


These are 2 of the featured GB Olympic hopefuls, both runners, and these medal-like photo collage illustrations stand alongside their Q+A's.