Doing a bit for school...

In order to help raise funds for Western Primary School PTA and their much needed IT equipment, two of us were asked to design some Christmas cards for the purpose. Here is the finished product - £3.50 for a pack of eight with most of the money going direct to the PTA! Milli McGregor was the other artist with the sweet birdies. I stuck to the school theme for this piece.

Two year project!

This is going to be the hardest project I have ever done but I have recently started my MA in Cultural Studies and Winchester University. I chose this course because I wanted to explore theory of culture in the broadest sense and how it relates potentially to my practical work. It's a much bigger topic than I'd envisaged but fascinating! So far we have already covered sub-cultures and pop-culture, fandom, post-modernism, ideology, media representation, place and space, panopticism and consumerism, but still loads to learn and may essays to write! Next semester - the Apocolypse in American texts!

artful exhibition 2!

For the second time this year we exhibited as the 'Artful' group at two venues across Winchester. There was a great buzz at the private view evening and the show stayed open for an extra week to accommodate late-comers. I was showing a few new pieces based on recycling using elements found on the beach at the Isle of Wight as well as old children's toys.

My latest show

Hello again :-)
Pleased to say that the lovely Claire is taking my work with her to sell at Renegade - the fantastic craft fayre near Brick Lane - see here for details:

Game of snap

This pack of cards in a lovely yellow box are from when I was about seven (mid seventies) - they still exist today at my parents. I always loved the bright coloured images!

Corrida de Toros!

Am very privileged to have one of my recent prints - a spanish bull - installed permanently on the wall of some lovely people who shall remain nameless! :-)

Brand project completed

I recently completed the design and production of a new brand identity for the fantastic Knit artist Elsy&Vine. The project included the creation of a master illustration for the lifestyle and homewares brand, followed by design and creation of materials - this included concertina brochure, swingtags, web site, postcards and also a branded tea towel. This was debuted at the Retail Expo 'Pulse' at London Earl's Court and got a great reaction from visitors.

Announcing...

...one of my latest designs - 'dollface' clock - acrylic - analogue.
To order only.

Contact me for details.

Artful Gallery Exhibition Opens

Thanks to everyone who came to the Private View of ArtFul Summer Show on Friday night.
What a crowd! Over 250 people braved the summer rain to crowd into the exhibition for a packed-out and very animated evening.
Many thanks for all the positive and enthusiastic feedback to our exhibition. We were delighted by your comments.

Although the Open studio weekend event is now over , there is a continuing ArtFul exhibition throughout July at Standrin, where you can see a representative selection of work by all members of the group under the same roof.

Postcards!

Hello. Introducing my limited edition litho-printed packs of 8 postcards on FSC paper. £4.50 a pack with a donation from each purchase to breast cancer care. £1.50 postage if you're not local. Come and get 'em before they go! Happy weekend.

Latest newsletter...

A design a day - March 31st

March 31st.
Well it's the last day and this is a bit of a mad one! However, please look though the previous 30 days and email/text/facebook me your top five designs - as postcard packs may be in print!
Thanks for your viewing and support over the last 31 days :-)

A design a day - 30th March

Feeling equine today :-)

A design a day - 29th March

29th March.
A sketch of a phoenix.

A design a day - 28th March

28th March.
More prototyping today :-)

A design a day - 27th March

27th March.
A sketch loosely based on an 18th century masonic apron.

A design a day - day 26.

Day 26.
Visiting parents so have uploaded one of dad's paintings today :-)

A design a day - March 25th

March 25th.
Feels slightly eastern.

A design a day - 24th March

24th March.
This one's for Maya :-)

A design a day - March 23rd

March 23rd.
Spring things.

A design a day - March 22nd

March 22nd.
Well, have been on a school trip today - so am handing the reins over to the very capable work of 'team lingo', alias Aisha, Hannah, Ruby, Hari and Ellis...

A design a day - March 21st

March 21st

Just been doing a bit of prototyping today.

A design a day - March 20th

March 20th
Quick sketch of a Flamenco Dancer - am still on the Spanish thought but not sure how/why yet!

A design a day - March 19th

March 19th
We had some fortune cookies today :-).

A design a day - March 18th

March 18th.
Thinking about chandeliers here - so a sketch - lots of thoughts on the individual combinations of shapes re. jewellery...have a lovely weekend everyone.

A design a day - March 17th

March 17th.
Ok, a confession... I had my hair done today - so my kind son has stepped in and donated something he drew last night - hope I can be forgiven ;-)

A design a day - 16th March

Here is a little montage of my early years - vivid little memories. Thanks to mum and dad for the originals - all converted from slides :-)

A design a day - 15th march

15th March.
To those of us with pets. Claire - sorry it wasn't a guinea pig x

A design a day - March 14th

March 14th.
A seed of an idea - would need more but here it is :-)

A design a day - 13th March

13th March.
Just some little birdhouses - not all that happy with the palette but it's Sunday and the family beckons :-)

A design a day - 12th March

12th March.
Playing with the idea of organic forms making patterns - just hand-drawn so not accurate but I quite like the idea.

A design a day - March 11th

March 11th.
I treated myself to some sequins today... just been playing around with them. Nothing revolutionary but a little touch of spring that I may go back to. Thanks to the drinking straws for their support.

A design a day - March 10th

March 10th
Don't ask me why today, as I don't know! But I do know I'm not keen on bullfighting (dramatic and colourful though it is).

A design a day - March 9th

Here are some very first thoughts for Ms AJ :-)I will leave the interpretation to you...

A design a day - March 8th

March 8th.
Oooh a busy day. So here is a quick tribute to the little mouse that went to heaven today thanks to our kitten :-(

A design a day - 7th March

7th March.
Not so much a design as some ideas and thoughts. Playing with the idea of things that are framed - furniture/shop windows and the possibility of taking this forward. Also the thought of partial embellishment on something monochrome... just some sketches here...

A designa day - Day 6

6th March.
I have three little wooden houses at home that i really like - so have used them as the basis for this design. :-)

A design a day - March 5th

March 5th.
As it's the weekend I thougyht I'd just play with a few of the photos from 3rd March - so here are two patterns based on those.

A design a day - 4th March

4th March.
Not happy with this one but hey ho.. just a door. Serves me right for spending too long in Nero.
Computer illustration.
It's Friday.

A design a day - March 3rd

Actually I can't really call this 'design' - more sketching - with plastic. These are more little tokens from my dad's travels - vintage seventies cocktail stirrers - from all the hotels he visited - and all the drinks he had! The plastic hearts are another trinket from another trip. Just playing with these as starting points for ideas...