The Big Read Bookbench at the official launch of The Core at Solihull, 20-21st May 2016

The newly refurbished Core building launched across this weekend and it was great to have The Big Read bookbench project coincide with the launch. 

The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull

Britain's Got Talent's The Neales cosy up onto my bench, could they feature in the final design?

Thinktank Bookbench Painting Sessions 6th-20th May

I have spent some long and late nights in the Think Space painting the grand design onto the book bench! I have accumulated a handful of the children's designs and rendered them into finished beasts that will assemble into a prehistoric scene.

The complete Ichthyosaur dinosaur skeleton is the central focus for this project, with JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the springboard for all of the imagined beasts.

'Montmarte 1895' Map progress

Almost finished the third building so I have dropped it into the map and have started playing with potential background colours.

I want it to be rooted in an old fashioned palette but with some contemporary tones so it doesn't look dull Maybe some strong typography to make it current or some nice textures to liven it up.

I think the key to the background is less is more, so it doesn't upstage the actual illustrated landmarks.

Stunning photography and packaging

Christmas come early!

Here is a tiny snippet of a commercial Christmas card I am currently working on. I can't wait to share both of the finished designs in 3 months time!

The Big Read 2016

I have been commissioned to produce the bookbench for ThinkTank Science Museum & Millennium Point, and it will be inspired by the great Ichthyosaur at ThinkTank as well as JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them.

A Nechells-based primary school were invited for a creative session and invented all kinds of fantastical beasts which I am now whittling down and distilling into a final design for the bookbench.

Inspiration

Benjamin Lacombe

Oliver Jeffers

Vintage style wedding invitation

Map illustrating Jack Kerouac's trip across America

Harley Quinn

Illustrated packaging