Bookcase Discovery

Oh what a find.

I think it was this very book that made me start drawing in the first place. It's pages are browning and the stitching is loose and it smells incredible, that lovely historical smell. Notice how I've named all the animals, well, most. At seven I apparently didn't think that the pigs and sheep were worthy of personal names. I distinctly remember copying some of these pictures and I remember particularly enjoying drawing the hair-fringe covering the shire horses hooves. It has tea cup ghost stains on the front cover and my grandma's old address inside. I read a book years ago about a girl whose dad was a novelist and he kept his manuscripts in the salad drawer of his fridge in case of a fire. I'd definitely keep this book in my fridge.

Old Prawn Brows

I drew this fishy old bachelor for my boy's 25th birhday. Pictured here without the ridiculous birthday rhyme that filled his hat. Out with antlers and in with wrinkly old men with stories to tell.

MM

Here he is. The final logo design for Merrimaking. I think this might be the start of a new wave of work. I can feel my drawing style changing a little. Watch this space.

Right Then

Right then. A tremendous amount has happened since my last post. I moved to London, found a job, started a Masters, found a new running route around Victoria Park and finished the George Lucas biography that has been sitting on my bedside table and glaring at me for a year and a half. I have made a promise to myself to never neglect this blog again. It may also serve as my diary and thought-cupboard for these coming years.
Above is a severely overdue drawing for my dear friends at Merrimaking. In it's final stages on my lightbox, it will serve as an illustrated logo for their glorious business of hood-making and more, find them at www.merrimaking.co.uk they are SERIOUSLY MERRY.

Food Pervert

At present I am in between houses and jobs. Having tied up all loose ends from all commissions based in Nottingham, and waiting to move in my new pile of bricks in East London (next wednesday!) I seem to have a lot of time on my hands. So I've been busying myself in the kitchen and in the nearby vegetable patch. I am a little closer to one of my Life Long Ambitions; to know each and every herb and spice and know exactly what dish it compliments. Here are some of my creations. Tonight: mackerel with chilli and lime. Tomorrow: Vegetable Calzone!

From top to bottom: fresh raspberries from the garden, roasted red peppers stuffed with spicy cous-cous and goats cheese for the Bank Holiday BBQ, garlic-roasted vegetables all from the garden then plum bake with a cheesecake swirl.

Sea no Evil

I have been doing some work for the noisy boys of Ocean Bottom Nightmare. The beast below is the Cover design for their forthcoming EP Panicdote. Since drawing this I have been paying more attention to the supermarket fish counter than deemed normal by the obliging staff of Sainsburys.

The Last Taxidermy

Here is the latest reason for my ink-stained fingers. A private commission in a swish pad in The Park, Nottingham. A very enjoyable project, the beautiful view from the balcony helped a little too. I do have to say that this might be my last bit of Taxidermy drawing for a little while. It's time to tackle the unknown. Starting with moving house to East London in less than a week. I'm truly excited and almost fully prepared for a diet consisting mostly of dry weetabix.