Cards cards cards

Beautiful Belle

My most recent mural project in Leeds. I only had one day to complete this, which was a real challenge, but completely worth it.... the little girls face when she saw Belle for the first time was simply priceless.

Reaching for the sky

Visiting the British Museum for the first time. Incredible. And every piece of glass on the ceiling is individually cut. That means no piece is the same.

Unique.

Life Drawing

Some more....

Life Drawing

Last weekend I went to a fantastic place down near Aylesbury called Phoenix Studios for a day of Life Drawing. With a little photo editing, these are the results.

Moving Images 9

a new journey, a new adventure
something my eyes have yet to witness
making my heart soar

When I was doing this drawing, gazing out of the train window, I was fantasising about what it would be like to be brave enough to take a leap of faith and do what I knew was right in my heart. Now I'm doing it, and it's even better than I had imagined.

Embark on new adventures, however scary they may seem.

Moving Images 8

Light falls

The original line to this drawing was Darkness Descends, but for some reason it just didn't look right. Moving Images has been quite an autobiographical series of illustrations and a lot of the time when I was drawing them I was in a dark place, mentally, and was struggling to see a way out. When I started this one I was beginning to see a small pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel.

A change of heart.

Bob Dylan

"I couldn't see how you could know me
But you said you know me and I believed you did."

A birthday present for my dear mum Maggie.

A Demonic Birthday

This was a painting I did for someones birthday. The recipient originally did the drawings, just lots of doodles on a scrap piece of paper, and they were so interesting and unique that I wanted to combine them into one piece. The outcome is perhaps a little disturbing, but I am pleased with the results.

Combined efforts.

The Waiting Game

So much to entertain me whilst waiting for the No.23.

Don't be bored.

Exploring new Territory

The past week I have accidentally spent a lot of time exploring new streets and areas of Manchester; subways, walkways and Mosside. The weather has been a blessing, especially early evening when the sun is just beginning to set, and has given me some beautiful lighting to shoot cityscapes, graffiti and reflections in windows, all on my trusty Nokia phone.

If something's that beautiful, there's no need for fancy technology.

A view from the Terazza

This is a quick sketch I started whilst on holiday in Spain, sitting in the sofa of the terrace listening to Jonie Mitchell and feeling more content and relaxed than I have done in a very long time. The kids I was staying with were fascinated by my sketching, so I promised them I would finish the piece back in England and send it over to them. I hope they like it. I hope to sit on that terrace again one day too.

Holidays are a essential.

Moving Images 7

a glimmer of hope creeps through on the horizon
sending waves of faith rippling through the land below.

Moving Images 6

one fine day I'll find my way
along this lonely river to nowhere
there will surely be breaks in its flow
sometimes unsure of which way to go
but it will find its course
of this I know.

The Lovers Seat

This is an illustration I did a while ago, but have since embellished with thread and framed. What pleases me most about this image is the incorporation of several different medias; from the initial quick pen sketch on the bus, to developing the drawing with markers, to overlaying it with a painting, to adding words, stitching and recycled papers. I've not yet been able to choose a specialism, precisely because I love paint, illustration and textiles equally. Perhaps this piece demonstrates that I don't have to.

Explore all avenues.

Indecision can sometimes be a virtue.

Another House from scraps

This is an almost identical design to the one I did last week for my Grandma, but I have decided to put it in a frame second time round, and thus create a present rather than a card. Still need to get bigger and better though!

Interpreting Banksy

This is a painting I have been working on for a long time and which has presented many challenges. My brother asked me if I would do an interpretation of one of Banksy's famous images, as he didn't want just a simple print of it, and wanted the piece to be completed in my own style. It ended up being quite experimental and I tried a lot of new techniques, some of which are more successful than others. I think I've learnt from this one never to give up, and when something seems like a lost cause, just keep going and the answer will more often than not come to you.

Perseverance is key.

Moving Images 5

The sun beams down on the golden fields below
Sending waves of yellow light to every corner of my watchful eye.
As usual I wonder what lies beyond;
this moment, this day, this lifetime, this field.
I guess I'll never know the answers to such bold questions
And I shouldn't be brave enough to ask.
Just Be.

Moving Images 4

Just another day riding the train sat in the same old seat.

Yet Another

This is my favourite one so far.

More Painting

I don't think these paintings need much explanation. They are what they are.

Playtime.

Some New Merges

I always draw. All of the time. On the bus, on the train, in my bedroom, in the garden etc. Consequently I have built up a large collection of simple line sketches, mostly figurative and have been wanting to develop them for a while, adding colour, texture and general interest. Yesterday I managed to steal a few hours and began experimenting with overlaying the drawings onto some of my paintings. The results were very pleasing and I am particularly fond of the static black and white illustration, on top of all the mad experimental colour behind. With The Lovers Seat, it is like the couple are suspended in their own perfect moment, while the hectic moving world goes on around them.

This is simply phase one in the experiment. I would like to continue developing these pieces, stitching into them and possibly adding some embelishments, such as beads and buttons. There is always room for improvement.

Houses from Scraps

Another day, and yet another card! As well as there being so many occasions and people to send cards to, I enjoy working on such a small scale, with the white background and a specific person in mind. I find it allows for a good amount of experimentation, but lacks the fear factor that a big blank canvas brings with it. I have recently been experimenting a lot with acrylic paints, seeing exactly what they can do, how they move and what magnificent effects can be created by scratching, squirting, rolling, dripping, dribbling etc....you get the gist. All of these processes produce one-off outcomes and whilst often the result can be messy, this is part of the fun of it. It is simply an exercise in investigation. I am however finding that with each painting I do, there is a least a small section of it which I like and which can be developed and turned into something else. Ripping,collaging and illustrating over the top is a favourite. Here, I have simply used two different colour experiments and turned them into the rough shape of a house and roof, then done simple line drawing over the top. It's a nice combination I think. The next step is of course to get BIGGER!

Turret Love

This is a little housewarming card I put together for my friend Beth, who has just moved in with her boyfriend Phil, in their lovely little house in London, with it's very own turret!

For a while now I have been collecting dried up pieces of paint, peeled from my pallet and I suppose ready for the bin. I however try my best to salvage everything and make something new from it. The colours which accidentally swirl together, make incredible shapes and patterns - particularly on the underside - and I can often make images from them in my head; I suppose it's a bit like looking up at the sky and making pictures from the cloud formations. I initially did not know what to put on the front of a "Happy New Home" card (apart from the obvious picture of a house), but when looking through my scraps of paint, my brain saw a duvet and a little head poking out of the top of it. That was it! With a few additions of paint and illustration over the top, others can now hopefully see what I saw so clearly.

Look harder, and you will always find beauty.

Exterior of Juan Sanchez

A local tapas bar commissioned me to paint the exterior lettering for them, incorporating the name Juan Sanchez and a selection of Spanish words including Vino and Sangria. I have had really good feedback on the work and was personally very pleased with the outcome. A little change from the normal murals and great to be working from such a specific brief. Looking forward to returning to do some interior painting for them on the furniture and along the front of the bar....as well as sampling the cerveza y paella!

Seeing Double

This was a very interesting and accidental angle I found to take photographs...from inside my musical jewellery box...