Aqua Man film poster

Some process shots of my design for an Aqua Man film poster, beginning with a scan of the original sketch which I have outlined on Illustrator.

Basic colour drops to compartmentalise different features.

Building up textures with burns and erasing. I am using more lighting references to capture the age and structure of the main subject.

Starting to detail and define features, with basic gradients to begin with.

Bournville, Reykjavik and Orsay Christmas Cards available now!

My Christmas Shop is now open at etsy here.

New designs include Bournville Green, featuring the Rest House, Carillon and carol singers on the Green.

I challenged myself to produce a panoramic illustration encapsulating the magic of Reykjavik.

The back of the design is a collection of spot illustrations including charming characters and the illuminated graveyard in Iceland.

The Orsay Museum once was a train station constructed for the turn of the century. Gare d'Orsay reimagines the 1900-set train station against a Parisian backdrop.

Illustrating the Natural History Museum

I have started working on a London-themed illustration, beginning with the Natural History Museum overlooking the ice rink. I have shortlisted 10 iconic landmarks and will work them around the Thames River. I have been working in icy 80s blue gradients to evoke a wintry feel.

Brand New Reykjavik Christmas Card

Over the summer I set up a poll to determine the next big illustration, so here is a panoramic piece depicting Reykjavik.

My greeting card designs tend to fit in a square frame, so to create a more challenging brief I changed the dimensions to a traditional DL format which allowed more scope for buildings and hills to show the expanse of the Northern Lights and Iceland's frozen hills.

Use 'HALLOWEEN15' at checkout for 10% off a £15 spend!

New products and updated shop, with a Reykjavik design coming very soon!

Use the code HALLOWEEN15 at checkout for a 10% discount (min spend £15), offer expires on Halloween!

Gare d'Orsay, Paris Christmas Card

Update: Orsay Christmas Illustration

Joyeux Noel

I have been working away on a few new designs for Christmas, including restoring the Orsay back into the train station on the Seine, before it was transformed 70 years later into an art museum.

I have used limited archival photography to reproduce an opulent outline of the grande station, which I will now fully render, finishing off with festive decoration and adding a few little charming characters as they return to Paris in time for Christmas

Reykjavik Updates!

Reykjavik illustration progress

After doing a lot of research around Reykjavik I have pieced together a panoramic scene including several Christmas traditions. I had planned to release the illustrations in two parts - as Christmas cards - that can sit together as a complete diorama.

Lots of small elements from Icelandic folklore will be included in the scene. I may even approach the Icelandic tourism board as the illustration already looks like it could work as a Christmas map or art print. 

To wire together lots of details into the scene, I have continued creating line-based frameworks of the main architecture nestled into a two point perspective.

I have started cladding the buildings here with the famous colourful houses of Reykjavik.

The lighting and reflections in the Blue Lagoon immediately add atmosphere which is a trademark of my work. I have tried to flatten the colours of my work more but having a tangible quality is something I do not want to lose, and I achieve using soft gradients and changes in depth.

The scene will have the northern lights overhead, meaning a night scene will demand more contract and shade in the illustration.

Rejkjavik given the vote!

After a Twitter vote, the theme of a new Christmas card for this year's range has been selected: Rejkjavik! This opens a wealth of playful visuals like the Blue Lagoon, Northern Lights and the iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church.

Birmingham Tote Bag now available at IKON Gallery

Very proud to see my Birmingham Tote Bag stocked at IKON Gallery Birmingham.

IKON Gallery is a contemporary art gallery situated in Brindley Place, Birmingham City Centre.

Photography Copyright Verity Milligan

Bournville Christmas Card on the way

In between projects I have had time to work on a Christmas card for later this year celebrating my childhood village of Bournville, including the famous Carillon bell tower.

I have also been exploring textures and adapting areas of detail - which are easily cluttered and lost - for smaller print by reducing line work where unnecessary.

I have also been focussing a lot on lighting to show form and create atmospheres.

3D illustration

Who wants Spoderman?

Link to video here.

Secret 7" entry

After several years I have entered Secret 7" 2018, I would love to have my work chosen this year and will unveil the design in a month or so. Long wait till the end of May to find out if my illustration has been selected. It has a mythical influence, combining historical cautionary tales to represent my chosen song.

Fashion illustrations

I am producing a few little digital advertising illustrations for a knitwear label. I have always wanted to dip into fashion illustration and using coloured pencils offers a homely feel and texture for my work.

New project updates

I have been working on a large scale wall piece approx 8 x 2.5 metres.

I began the piece in January and hopefully early May it will be ready for installation. I can't wait to unveil the finished version for everyone to see!

I have been using Illustrator a lot more to achieve the technical structure of the architecture. Illustrator also offers clean lines and curves which would greatly slow my progress in Photoshop.