Bridges have been writ large in my year, thanks to writers’ organisation 26. I’ve been artist partner to writer Jonathan Holt for 26 Bridges and invited to take part in 26 Twinned Bridges, a different kind of project pairing writers in the UK and New Zealand, each writing a centena … Read More
Well, it’s been quite a year for variety… In a thrilling project for independent perfumer Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays, I got to illustrate Vianne’s Confession, Sarah’s collaboration with author Joanne Harris for the back-story to Chocolat. It’s been wildlife central for London heritage, art and ecology site Cody Dock, … Read More
It’s the time of year for a momentary diversion from projects to products… cosy things, reusable things, things for the wall, upcycled things, and things that don’t even exist yet: In my Teemill shop, there’s a collection of seasonal sketches on organic cotton jumpers and gift sack/tote bags printed to … Read More
Behind the scenes of the Vianne’s Confession illustration… Drawing used to be the part of my design work that clients never saw – the workings-out; the thinking on paper. And though my sketch illustration is now a visible thing, I still explore that way. Commissioned to illustrate a collaboration between … Read More
I bring my design head to my live sketching gigs. So booked for live sketching a members’ breakfast at the Gantry, one of innovative social enterprise The Trampery’s workspaces, at Here East in London’s Olympic Park, I did two things: I asked for some waste materials to turn into sketchbooks … Read More
My sketching work is on location, on communications and in discussions. But this Summer, it’s also on show – at three East London exhibitions… Three giclée prints from my project Dispatches from a Small World have been in Newham Kaleidoscope, a showcase of over 80 works by 40 artists. The exhibition … Read More
Over the past three years, there’s been a whirlwind of adaptation to new contexts, new client needs, new ideas and brand new uses for my creative knowledge and skills. It’s been all about doing, and learning by doing. So it’s been interesting to have two rare chances to reflect. Researcher, … Read More
Behind the scenes My preparatory work for Breather, my piece for 26 Inspirations, part of the Bloomsbury Festival, started with several sketchwalks. I know the route well but it was considerably bendier than it was in my imagination of a linear drawing… And then there was rain. Biro is wonderfully … Read More
Baking. That’s not on the list of things I do in my work… But Studio Snack, a five minute podcast series I’ve been cooking up with fellow designer Narcis Sauleda, brought up the subject of biscuit typography. Baking letterforms is an interesting exercise in itself – it makes you think about … Read More
Teamwork… Last year, I drew portraits of everyone at Bowen Craggs, and a self-portrait, for its online celebrations. This year, I’ve drawn two new people. Now, there’s a portrait wall. In that, there are two things: That you can’t see the join between my work and the Bowen Craggs team’s … Read More