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.