Post feasting activities...

Traditional competitive play with the family on Christmas Day...

Self indulgence

Decided to update my banner as the previous straightforward name in pencil was a bit stale...

Wanted a bit of colour and pattern so after a couple of doodles along the lines of below... the new framed name was the winner (see top).

Next stop, website... although don't hold your breath.

Bit by a dog...

Simon asked me ages ago if I'd like to design a kind of poster for one of his short films. And so, as a result of productive procrastination to avoid death by assignment, I've finally got round to playing about with some ideas.

The film is about addiction, so I started by thinking about being attached and unable to escape.  (For a glance at the teaser trailer click here...)  

Was hung up on drawing a dog for quite some time due to the title.. But finally settled on a belt as the main object which I figure has dog lead connotations, as well as functional associations with heroin use.  The belt is in a snake shape, as though loosely discarded after use, to link in with ideas I had about being hypnotised through drug use, with smoky swirly patterns in the design...  And I've tried to blend a subtle snake head onto the end of the belt to hint at the grand biblical ideas of temptation, deceit and evil, which all seem relevant to the film.  Backgrounds vary between carpet, snakeskin and smoke... My current favourite is the carpet and snakeskin blend on top right, but this may change depending on what Simon says...

Islington Plants

Working on a sign for a plant business today.  They asked for it to include a fuschia, so I've been drawing the dainty dancing shapes all day...

Want to see inside my studio?

Thought i'd share a photo or two from my studio space.  Tis going to change shortly as i'm moving at the end of Sept, but for the time being, this is where I get my creative on...

Talk at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park...

To coincide Heritage Open Days, this Saturday 8th September at 2pm, I'm doing a bit of a talk (Eeek!) on the inspiration behind my drawings of vintage Nottingham lace machinery in The Yard Gallery in Wollaton Stables at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, Nottingham.  Nottingham's Industrial Museum is next door, where the Leaver's Lace Machine below resides... and there's a exhibition of vintage lace draughtsman's drawings and blueprints taking place too... So plenty to see and do if I'm a bit dull!  And designer Debbie Bryan will be giving a talk on her heritage collection the following day if you're not free until Sunday...

Sticky Note Set...

Recently designed an office themed set of sticky notes for Parragon Books.  Was a great little project that has vastly improved by indesign software skills!  The set of 8 sticky notes (some of which are below) fit together in a rectangular block and will be presented in a tin with the above diecut label... making the perfect gift!  Can't wait to see the finished product in the shops!