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.