Illustration Friday - Spirit (of Christmas)

Here is a Christmas card design that I finished this week for one of our briefs at Paper Dove Company. I thought this was a perfect image to contribute to this week's Illustration Friday post with my representation of the 'Spirit of Christmas'.

I hope you enjoy this illustration and have a magical Christmas and New Year!

Holly x

Illustration Friday - Pattern

Here it is... Finally I can contribute to this week's Illustration Friday topic, 'Pattern.' This is an illustration from my first publication with Walker Books, 'The Book of Bedtime Stories'. 

I created the repeat pattern of the baby's clothing in the gorgeous print rooms at Edinburgh College of Art... lots of mess, fun and experimentation!

Paper Dove - Day out in London 2013

The Illustration Cupboard, London. Shirley Hughes : Alfie's Christmas.

The Royal Academy, London. Honore Daumier : Visions of Paris.

London Transport Museum, London. Poster Art 150 - London Underground's Greatest Designs.

Antiques and Collectables Market, Covent Gardens.

Antiques and Collectables Market, Covent Gardens. Letterpress stall.

This week the Paper Dove designers had an amazing day out in London.

After an extremely early start from Newcastle station, our first stop was at The Illustration Cupboard. Here we saw the solo exhibition of the much-loved 'national treasure' Shirley Hughes, who is launching her latest book 'Alfie's Christmas'.

Then we went to the Royal Academy to see the Honre Daumier exhibition 'Visions of Paris'. This show reveals 130 works of which many have never been seen in the UK before. The range of media on display includes paintings, drawings, lithography, sculpture and watercolours. His use humour and light is what is particularly inspiring.

We then took a trip to Covent Gardens to the London Transport Museum to see the 'Poster Art 150 - London Underground's Greatest Designs'. This amazing show presents the 150 of the greatest Underground poster designs ever produced by many famous artists such as Paul Nash and photographers such as Man Ray.

To finish off the day we explored the shops and markets in Covent Gardens where I bought a few letterpress bits and bobs to experiment with back in the print studio at work.

My first publication!!

I am so happy to finally announce my first publication with Walker Books! This beautifully designed treasury showcases ten amazing stories written by members of Mumsnet and Gransnet that were chosen by former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen.

Ten upcoming artists and illustrators created a series of images for these short stories including me (of course) and a lovely friend of mine from Edinburgh, Cate James.

You can but the book from Walker Books here.

New Job at Paper Dove

At the beginning of September I started a new job as a designer at Paper Dove Company in Northumberland. This amazing company creates innovative, tailored designs exclusively for charities in the UK and Europe.

The artwork that we have to produce is so varied, from cute 'children's booky' animals to painterly religious scenes. Charities who I have been creating work for include RNLI, Tearfund, PDSA, Leukaemia, RSPB and Sue Ryder.

Unfortunately the designs I create this year won't be for sale until next year as we have to work so far in advance, but watch this space!

OHFA book in progress - Visit to Frances Lincoln

It been quite a while since I last updated my blog, but here is some news since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with my Masters degree. 

During the summer I headed down to Frances Lincoln Publishing in London with Elizabeth Hammil and David Wright of Seven Stories. During this visit we got to see the 'Over the Hills and Far Away' book in development, with the two other competition winners Pippa Curnick and Sian Jenkins. 

To see my illustration work in the same book as iconic illustrators such as Michael Foreman, Eric Carle, Shirley Hughes, Robert Ingpen and Axel Scheffler, was unbelievable. I can't wait to see it in print next year!

You can read more about the project here.

Macmillan Prize 2013

I am finally updating my blog! It has been so busy with the degree show but here is a little post about the Macmillan Prize 2013. 

I was extremely happy to hear that I was awarded Highly Commended for the prize this year, for my picture book 'Hiccups!' This is a book that I have enjoyed writing and illustrating as one of my main projects during my masters course at Edinburgh College of Art (2011-2013). 

Here are a couple of photographs from the private view of the exhibition which was held at the Foyles Bookshop Gallery in May.

ECA Degree Show Preparations 2

Some of my pieces waiting to be hung.

Eilidh Muldoon painting her table for the show. 

Philip Longson planning his layout for the wall space.

Eilidh Muldoon with her first pieces up and hanging.

One of our little MFA1 helpers, Jessica Kettle who dares to be sleeping in my bed.

ECA Degree Show Preparations

Edinburgh College of Art in the SUN!!!

ECA Artist in Residence, Kasia Matyjaszek helping to make my textile pieces.

MFA1 student Hannah Botma helping to make my textile items.

Philip Longson arranging his frames.

Caroline Halliwell making her lanterns.

Over the Hills and Far Away Competition

I am very happy to announce that I have just WON the Seven Stories and Frances Lincoln national illustration competition, 'Over the Hills and Far Away.' My artwork will be included in a new nursery rhyme collection to be published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books in the Autumn of 2014.

This anthology is a fresh and inclusive collection of nursery rhymes that has be gathered together from cultures across the English speaking world. Children and families will be introduced to the many diverse voices that speak to the very young in verse - offering readers new sounds, new sights and new ways with words.

The double page spread that I chose to illustrate was an African American and a Maori lullaby. Elizabeth Hammill (Co-founder of Seven Stories) stated that my artwork 'subtly and distinctively wove the two verses together by capturing a night that, like the father's embrace, is immersive and comforting and a place for imaginings of the possibilities that the galloping horses offer. There is a tenderness too in the father/baby relationship that is true and moving. The father/child are both specific to these rhymes but absolutely universal too.'

The collection will also include some 70 illustrators from across the English speaking world including: Michael Foreman, Robert Ingpen, Shirley Hughes, Jane Ray, Bob Graham,
Nick Sharett, Eric Carle, Axel Scheffler, Shaun Tan, Emily Gravett, Catherine Rayner,
Polly Dunbar, Sara Ogilvie, Jessica Ahlberg, Mini Grey, Yasmeen Ismail, Joel Stewart,
John Lawrence and Kevin Waldron.

Illustration Friday - Farewell

I am in my final two weeks of my masters course at Edinburgh College of Art and although it is the craziest time of my life, I was determined to take a bit of time out to enter a Illustration Friday sketch this week.

Here is my happy 'baby-farewell' for you. See you again soon!

Illustration Friday - Wild

Here is my post for this week's Illustration Friday. It is also a little something that is apart of a bigger something for my degree show.... #watchthisspace :)

Pre Degree Show (part 1)

Caroline, Eilidh and Alice working hard on a Saturday.

Eilidh Muldoon creating a new repeat pattern.

Alice Spicer's fabulous paper-cut-fish.

Philip Longson starting a new piece for the degree show.

I hope you enjoy these few photos from the  MFA (Master of Fine Art) Studio Space. Keep an eye out for more photos as we lead up to the degree show.

Illustration Friday - Talent

Illustration Friday - Wool

Someone is looking very cosy in their woolies!

Illustration Friday - Storm

Illustration Friday - Wings

Opening night

Me with one of two of my favourite characters.

Eilidh Muldoon, adding the finishes touches to her exhibition space.

Cate James, adding the finishing touches to her exhibition space. 

Kasia Matyjaszek with her cheeky friend at the opening night.

Helen Coburn with one of her illustrations at the opening night.

Friends from Edinburgh College of Art at the opening night.

Here are a few snap shots of the 'Surrounded by Stories' opening night. 

I would like to say a big thank you to the wonderful illustrators who were apart of this wonderful event... it was a pleasure to work and exhibit with you. Also, a big thank you to North Edinburgh Arts for the wonderful exhibition space.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to pop down to the exhibition, you still have time. It is open until the 2nd February. Hope you enjoy it!

Surrounded by Stories Exhibition

I'm very excited to announce that I am having an exhibition with four other wonderful children's illustrators at the North Edinburgh Arts.

The 'Surrounded by Stories' exhibition brings together the work of five children's illustrators into an exciting group show. The wonderful lineup includes Helen Coburn, Cate James, Kasia Matyjaszek, Eilidh Muldoon and of course me!

The exhibition start on Tuesday 15th January and ends on Saturday 2nd February 2013. We will be having an official opening on Tuesday 15th from 6-7.30pm, where we will be having a few little drinks and nibbles to celebrate!