The end of Autumn

Hello,

I hope you've had a good week.  Just a quick one today, I wanted to share this illustration I created all about autumn before it comes to an end!  I can't believe it's almost December already and winter is almost here.  It has certainly felt that way this week, although thankfully today was warmer :).
I loved drawing all the detail in this one and thinking of all things Autumnal to include.  I hope you like it.

I've been working on a London themed illustration this week which I'll share with you soon.  In the meantime have a wonderful weekend and week :).

The crow

Hello,

I hope you're having a good week.  This week I've been working on lots of fun new work which I will show soon.  I also finished a large scale drawing I'd been working on.  It's been an age since I did anything this size and it was so nice to get back to large brushes and lovely large marks.  If I'm honest I'd wanted to create this illustration for ages but didn't have the time to really focus on it properly, I wanted to give it all my energy rather than just dipping in and out.  I really enjoyed it and I'm definitely going to do more.  My subject was a crow because I find them so fascinating.  I wanted to use blacks, greys and a hint of gold leaf as once again it's been so long since I just created a piece in black and white.  I did do numerous large studies before committing to the final and I am really happy with the result.

That's me at the bottom, for the purpose of scale and being a bit silly I know :).  I would love to create more work like this so if you're a business/person with a space on your wall that needs filling why not give me a shout (shameless plug). 

Have a lovely weekend, it's going to be a nippy one methinks, a great excuse to find somewhere nice and cosy to have a lovely hot drink.  See you next week :).

Autumn sunshine

Hello,

Brrr, it's been a bit nippy this weekend, but the sun has been out so I've been enjoying a day of sunny painting, hurrah!
So, I've now been reunited with my laptop, all back, fixed, (even cleaned!) and earlier than expected so I'm feeling a lot happier, (and very relieved).
I mentioned previously that I'd spent a few days in the Norfolk/Suffolk countryside just recently so I wanted to share some illustrations inspired by the trip.  I always find taking time out of regular life and going on long walks out in nature refreshes me so much, and I always come back full of ideas following what I've seen.
The Chicken below was one of the few (some more willing to pose for photos than others!) found in the gardens at Felbrigg Hall.  They are free to roam around as they wish and have some rather fancy homes.  There were also some beautifully coloured and knobbly squash dotted around the gardens.  Along with lots of lovely plants and a few flowers.

I made this swan pattern following a walk along the river stour, on a lovely sunny day.  

I love the colours of the lichen on this tree contrasted with the blue and green :).

Ok, that's it for now.  I've got an early start tomorrow so I need to start organising myself.  I'll be back later in the week with more updates.  I hope you had a lovely weekend! 

Festive food and drinks

Hello,

So I’m writing this from my phone as I’ve managed to damage my laptop screen and it’s in for repair :(.  Pretty annoyed with myself but it’s happened and so I have to get on with it!  It will take a few days so until then, no computer!  Thankfully at least I can keep making work in the meantime as it’s all hand drawn.
Anyway, I wanted to share the illustrations I created for this months Women’s Health UK.  It was a lovely festive commission of food and drinks.  I especially loved drawing the tree crackers and the mushrooms.

That’s it for now I hope you have a great weekend! 

Autumn time in the country

Hello,

I've just come back from a little break in Norfolk/Suffolk visiting my family.  Very nice it was too.  I was lucky to have some lovely sunny days (along with one rainy one but luckily I was inside for that).  I love those crisp autumn days and I really enjoy having a good stomp around in the fresh air.  I've come back full of ideas from my trip.
Before I went I finished this illustration of a blackberry and apple crumble, something which is definitely missing in my life, I can't remember when I last ate one :(.  It's one of those perfect colder day puddings, yum.

A few pictures from my days away.  I always like to go and visit the sea.

I love the light at this time of year in the late afternoon and the long shadows it casts.

I do have a berry obsession, I don't know what ones these are but they have the most gorgeous colour.

 This was the late afternoon sunshine, perfect.

Autumn, :).  I hope you have a lovely weekend (and get to eat some crumble!) 

Autumn loveliness

Hello,

There's been a bit of a gap since my last post, whoops!  It's been a busy time but now I'm finally getting back to it.  I've been working on some festive illustrations which I'll show when they've been published, and just recently it's been all about Autumn for me.  I absolutely love the wonderful warm colours that are around at this time of year, and I do like this cosy time of year even if it is sad to wave summer goodbye.
Today is a totally gorgeous sunny day and I'm looking out onto some lovely golden trees in the garden :).  These two illustrations are inspired by this, (what always feels very brief) time of the year, full of rich colour.

I also (as with every Autumn) have been taking lots of leaf photos :).

I love the colour combination below.

Ok, that's it for now, I'm just finishing a lovely cup of tea, then I must take a walk in this sunshine before heading off for dinner tonight with friends :).  Have a great weekend!

Food illustrations and a lovely weekend

Hello,

I hope you've had a good week.  Today I'm sharing the illustrations I created for this months Women's Health Magazine.  The article is all about trace minerals in food and I do love drawing food!

I really enjoyed working on these, I think they make quite a nice set all together.  I'm especially happy with how the fish, eggs and nuts turned out.  It also gave me the opportunity to draw one of my favourite things, oats, twice :).

I spent some of last weekend with a visit from a lovely friend Kerry Lemon spending time gallerying (with plenty of tea and coffee stops, obviously!)  We did get to see the Picasso exhibition at Tate which I think closes this weekend so go if you have the chance!

We also visited Camden Arts Centre and had a very delicious lunch there in glorious sunshine :).

Ok, that's it for me I'm off to Saturday Bodycombat then back to drawing this afternoon.  Have a lovely weekend whatever you're up to and I'll be back soon!