Lady Sonnnnnnnnsa, watercolour and pencil, (March 2015)

This is my completed Game of Thrones Compendium entry. I just need to reformat the piece and submit it in the next week or so. I feel I have captured her well, with a confrontational and piercing expression. I wanted to blend some gingerliness with darker tones in her hair to show the transition she has gone through and wash out her skin and eyes so she appears more like a cold, ruthless cow bag.

Boot Café Lovin'

The Boot Café have kindly posted the first update of my illustration on their own account! I will be making them up into greeting cards before I head to Paris in May. My work definitely suits a more European audience and whilst on holiday it is a good opportunity to make some inroads. 

If I can put my work in their gallery space it'd be great. I am aiming to get one or two more designs of this series made up and put in and around cafés in Montmartre and Versailles! Watch this space...

Lorde (pencil, digital, watercolour)

This is an illustration I have entered for the AOI World Illustration Awards under Self-Promotion. I wanted to enter some picture book work as I feel it is strong work however my newer pieces have this minimalistic feel.

 The piece uses a lot of negative space to focus attention on the intense detail which was created with mixed media, albeit fairly safe styles. The face is pencil then watercolour and the softness supports the hair/necklace illustration whilst bringing something new to the illustration, creating a softer mood.

All Aboard! Big Hoot Competition Submission!

My design is titled Owl Aboard! I wanted to create a piece promoting Birmingham’s forward- thinking and development of the new Metro service which will travel from Snowhill to New Street. Focusing on this theme was when the idea took flight.

I created a whimsical world in the trees above Birmingham where owls flock to catch the Metro to Snowhill. The little owlets departing the train are on a school trip is an ode to Birmingham recently being named for best UK city to visit. 

I have given the owl’s individual looks and personalities to represent the mixed cultural population in Birmingham and it is safe to say they are having a right hoot. 

Yorks Bakery Cafe completed Christmas card!

Yorks Christmas card complete! I added a vintage 1930s feel through the choice of typography and gave the impression of night time through the vibrant lighting inside and the purple hazed snow reflecting the winter night sky.

Yorks Bakery Cafe Christmas card progress

Some good progress on the Yorks design, including a coloured wreath, lamposts and the boy with the sled.

I wanted to capture the essence of Yorks homely feel, and the golden tones set by the low-hanging bulbs have been echoed in the illustration.

Downton Abbey Christmas Card

You can pick up this card and see the rest of my Christmas Card range now at Big Cartel

Winter Dogs Christmas card

I have completed this pair of scheming pooches, plotting to break their stoic stances in favour of building a snowman. Recreating the aesthetic of the fabric required some translation to look convincing in pencil form and this was a nice challenge

The Grand Budapest Hotel Christmas card teaser

Coming Soon!

Weird dogs update!

 I am illustrating a pair of winter-dressed pooches as part of my Christmas animals range

Imposter Puggy!

Pug card complete! A reindeer couldn't make it so this chubby pug bears the challenge of delivering Christmas to the world.

Yule Ball Harry Potter-inspired Christmas Card

Here is the completed Harry Potter Christmas Card. I have added the pillars and gargoyles to replicate the Grand Hall to set the scene for the Yule Ball, and gives more of a magical, typically Harry Potter feel to the design.

Santa is Coming Game of Thrones-inspired Christmas Card

Update 3

Latest update, next to add some snow

Christmas card update 2

Here is the 2nd update on my illustrated Christmas cards for this year. I've been using a mask to colour individual sections rather than plain layers as masks allow me to completely change the layer colour.

Bad News Barrett illustration

I've been dabbling with Live Trace a little more to get a sharper finish to my illustrations, as I was getting annoyed by the jagged lines caused by the paper grain when scanning a pen-drawn piece at high resolution. I'm obsessed with WWE so thought this would be a good way to go and experiment with a completely different feel to my usual pencil-laden work.