picture this...

Last month I was chosen to exhibit in picture this... which is at the Riverside Gallery in beautiful Richmond (in London). On Friday last week I travelled down to hand deliver Harry and Barry (the squirrel twins) to the gorgeous Orleans House gallery in St Margarets, which is now where I would like to live, if I ever leave Edinburgh. 

If you happen to be in the area then please go and have a look at the exhibition. It is a showcase of contemporary children's book illustration and free to get in. Perfect!

Details in the photo above.

Althelstaneford primary school

Last week I had the great honour of being asked to open the new library at Althelstaneford Primary School near Haddington. I had a great morning there working with the kids and reading stories to them. We made masks and drew animals and talked about being an illustrator. A brilliant way to spend a morning!

Bunny

It's been a busy old time lately and I have been as rubbish as usual at keeping up to date with my poor, lonely, ignored blog. But to make up for it, here is a lovely picture from my new story that I am working on. That's all I am saying about it for now, but it is very cute and I shall be looking for a publisher very soon!

Sandy and Charlie

This makes EVERYONE smile. So here it is again. Sandy and Charlie, my swimming pals of 5 and a half years at Ainslie Park. The book is dedicated to them and they feature as extras in the story. I should probably also mention that Lollipop and Grandpa and the Wobbly Tooth is out this week!!! Also, I have signed up to do a further two books so will be spending more time with Lollipop and Grandpa this year, which is good because I am missing them a little bit.

Take Five Illustrators

Just a reminder that Take Five Illustrators exhibition is still running at the Scottish National Gallery on the Mound in Edinburgh. I had a brilliant day there last month working with kids, and running a masterclass for adults in the morning. This is part of an animal we invented, and below is a photo of me reading Lollipop and Grandpa Go Swimming.

There was no official opening for the exhibition, but just after it opened we were lucky enough to be invited to a masterclass at the gallery by one of my heros, Oliver Jeffers, which was a great opportunity to drink wine and eat crisps with my work on show. The exhibition is on for another six weeks, so if you get a chance, go along. I met fellow exhibitor Barroux last month. He is a brilliant artist and quite the charmer!

REDISCOVER

Last weekend I took part in the excellent REDISCOVER events which happened all over Dumfries and Galloway. I did two events on Saturday in Castle Douglas library and St John's Town of Dalry library. They were both excellent fun; the kids were really up for drawing and listening, and the librarian at Dalry stepped in when I lost my voice from too much talking. 
On Sunday I was based at the Mersehead RSPB reserve, and after a beautiful drive I was blown away by the beautiful scenery. It was literally breathtaking. One minute I was in a wood surrounded by hills, the next minute I was on a beach that wouldn't have looked out of place in New Zealand.
NOW I realise that I got eaten alive by midges but I can live with that, it was worth it (although I'm not leaving the house until the one on my forehead goes down a bit).
Being an illustrator can be so studio based, and as much as I love that, being out in the fresh country air and away from the city has really removed any pent up city anger! I need to do this more often. It's also a great way to meet your audience, and to steal ideas from them (thanks Matthew!). I would certainly encourage any illustrators who get invited along to these events to do them. Don't be scared!

A quick Monday drawing

Today is the start of the second week of having no deadlines, just long term projects, so I can relax for once and have a bit of time off. However, although this sounds great in theory, I am terrible at not working. If I don't draw then I go actually crazy. So today I sat at the side window of my house and drew the accident-prone traffic at the lights. It's research for the book I am writing, and also gave me the excuse to make this image. All cars look the same these days, so I found the vans and buses much more fun to draw.

It's them Modern Faces again...

I have some friends and they are called the Modern Faces and they are from Dunfermline and they are really talented musicians. They are soon going on tour as you can see from this poster that I designed for them. 

Tiger Post

Hello there! Here is some work that I have been doing. It's annoying to have a blog and then do lots of secret work that you can't tell anyone about for ages, so in the meantime, here is a lovely post box. It is to advertise the Tiger Post service that is available in Paper Tiger in Edinburgh. www.shoppapertiger.com is their website. If you visit this site you will see many lovely things that you want to buy, and some of my design work in the form of maps and stuff.

STOP RAINING!

According to this it is Thursday (lie) but the rest is pretty accurate. I rediscovered this the other day. It was part of a series of daily rants I did in 2008. Typical that the weather is so terrible when I have free time that could be spent in my overgrown garden.