Geek Squad range for Cherry Moon

Four of the cards from my Geek Squad range

Jen changing the ink on the letterpress machine

Verity in production 

Here is a sneaky peak at 'Geek Squad', which is my very first range for Cherry Moon.

These brightly coloured designs showcase familiar retro objects and games that we've all loved. They have been beautifully hand printed by my friends Verity and Jen using one of our amazing letterpress machines. This old printing method is perfect for this range, adding to the retro feel.

This NEW range of twelve cards, is set and ready to go to the Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham next month.

Illustration Talk - The University of Sunderland

As part of the Seven Stories 'Picturebook in Progress Project', I was asked to present an illustration talk at The University of Sunderland. This wonderful project aims to inspire young artists to follow into an illustration career. What a great project to be apart of!

During the event I discussed my artwork for the 'Over the Hills and Far Away' book, my transition from being a student to working in the professional world of illustration, my working methods/techniques, my experience of working with publishers, editors and book designers, and my new job at Paper Dove.

At the end of the talk, the students had the opportunity to look at some of my original material, work in progress, and published pieces, seeing a project from the very beginning to the very end.

If you are in Newcastle on the 25th January, make sure you get yourselves to the Picturebook in Progress Gallery Opening at Seven Stories and view the artwork of some of the UK's best loved illustrators.

With special thanks to Alison Barratt, David Wright and Carey Fluker Hunt.

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!