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
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
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 easy to miss. London Bridge writes its name where passing boats might see it. But when I typeset Jonathan Holt’s poem London Bridge on London Bridge to enclose with our lithograph for 26 Bridges, a project by writers’ organisation 26 to raise money for a UCLH specialist clinical nurse, … 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
I get in touch with clients from time to time to see where we are on their projects. It’s part of the choreography in getting processes to work, individually and around each other. Which would suggest that every project is dancing the same steps, to the same tempo, in the … Read More
I do like a proof. Yes, they’re necessary to check quality – but there’s also something lovely in their utility. Colour strips. Registration marks. And on a giclée test giclée print, details of all of the prints lined up like a colour swatch… The test for my Hello, Petal exhibition … 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
A drawing board. As gym equipment goes, it’s a bit unorthodox. But in this, the season of squeaky-clean trainers and good intentions, I’m reminded why I draw when I’m not working on projects: skills need exercise too. I go to life drawing as a dancer does class. It’s difficult. I … Read More