It’s an illustration of a tassel. Simple, you might think. Some would use a machine to do it. But 4160 Tuesdays is an artisan perfumery. This collection’s box and postcards have illustrations I started by doing research sketches at shows. So I’ve drawn from an actual tassel. I’ve looked at … Read More
Design; creative direction; illustration; visual art… these seem like separate strands of creative work but I bring all of my knowledge, skills, experience and thinking to everything I do – including my Tower Gallery artist residency. As I prepare two pieces for the gallery’s September Open exhibition, there’s been some … Read More
Whether I’m working on design, illustration or visual art, I love delving into the subject matter. So I’ve done a lot of research for my Tower Gallery artist residency, a project about the place itself. In week 4, I’ve been reading the building, literally as I’ve taken a closer look … Read More
A writer friend used to swear by his dog. I take my sketchbook for a walk. I often call my walks screen breaks (often, they are) – but they’re all manner of other things too… I come up with ideas on walks that I don’t have at a desk. There’s … Read More
Nerd Nite London is a monthly night of three short talks about niche subjects, with an audience of curious-minded people, and a bar. For my seventh Nerd Nite London talk, I’ve been following the story of the printer’s fist (pointing hand). The foraging has been fascinating – you can read … Read More
I’ve been to Lille for the day, to see La Piscine, a museum of art and industry in an art deco swimming pool. It’s thrillingly good, using its setting as a fresh way to think about the objects in it. I saw much else besides; this, after two weeks in … Read More
I have several strands of work. And sometimes they overlap, bringing things from one area of work to a project or activity in another. Here are just a few examples from 2025: I’ve brought my experience in breaking down information to a plant labelling workshop at art, heritage and ecology … Read More
In November 2025, I met writer and artist Joni Brown for her new ‘Artists in conversation’ series of newsletter articles for writers’ organisation 26. Perched at a British Library café with sketchbook (me), notebook (Joni) and tea, we chatted about the meanderings of creative careers, our practice and the pull … Read More
For a creative collaboration (about which, more to come), I had signed up for a workshop at Hausprint with master lithographer Simon Burder, having picked the brains of two printmakers I know. There is so much value in learning in person from people who know their stuff; in experiencing the … Read More
It was like playing a harp… On a big sketch on canvas, I’d decided to show the way reeds glitter in the light by way of gold embroidery. Cody Dock is a favourite spot for a screen break tea break – so, tea bags for a colour wash. I had … Read More