Life Is Magic Paperback!

Life is Magic is out now in paperback for those who like a book with a little more bend.  Hooray!

Can you spot the cover differences from the hardback?

Here's a peek at the insides...

Tadaa!

This is Gary.  

Some magic in action.

There's now a jaunty 'This book belongs to...' page where you can write your name or whatever takes your fancy.  And the clever clogs' at Andersen Press have managed to squeeze all the additional cover artwork in too.

Available in all good bookshops and the usual places online.

I've also recently been sent a few co-editions so if you're in the U.S.A look out for Rabbit Magic.

In French we have 'Tout est Magie' (which I had a lot of fun hand lettering)

and in Danish look for 'Livet er Magisk'

Read it Again!

I'm really excited that Life Is Magic has been shortlisted for Read it Again! - The Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award.  This award is presented to a first time author/illustrator and is judged by the children of Cambridgeshire.  Having lived in Ely while I was studying at Cambridge School of Art makes this doubly sweet as it's an area I'm particularly fond of.

I'm thrilled that so many school children will have the chance to read and discuss my book as well as the others on the shortlist, and what a fine list it is.  You can read the full shortlist here.

Good luck everyone!

#illo_advent

This year I've decided to fully commit to #illo_advent (which I say most years but this year I haven't failed!  Not yet anyway)  The point, for me, was to draw something everyday as somedays are spent entirely on my computer.  For this reason I wanted to draw on paper, and to post it online no matter what it was.  I'm really not keen on showing sketches so this was to spur me into showing whatever I drew, whether I liked it or not.  The bonus of paper is that I'm able to give my favourites away.

So here they all are.  Some better than others, some have already gone to good homes.  My advent only goes up to day 24 like the chocolate calendars, at least that's how they worked when I was a kid.

For all the Christmas babies, happy birthday!

I made it to the end this year!! Merry Christmas folks. See you in the future...anytime from now.

illo_advent week one

Those busy elves on Twitter are preparing for the festive season with an illustrated advent yet again.  You can find lots of wonderful artwork at #illo_advent  Last year I only managed day one, this year I'm trying to do an illustration a day.  I'm up to date so far.  Here's week one.

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

Cut out conga

Some of those clever Twitter peeps are doing a #cut_out_conga and I was asked to join in.  Each participant adds a cut out and posts it along to a new illustrator.  The incredible Nikki Dyson posted them on to me.   It was a lot of fun to do as I very rarely paint anything so it was nice to dust off my watercolours.  We're talking serious dust, I've had the same set since high school.

Here's my cut out in progress.

sketch

outline.  I'm a coloured pencil girl.

painting

cut out

The gang altogether and posted on to Bethany Christou

Girl with chickens

My screen print Girl with Chickens is now available to buy in my shop HERE

Happy Hallowe'en!

Houdini would like it noted that he's actually a hufflepuff.