Kate Slater Illustration

Images 36

2012-01-31T15:32:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I learnt that two of my illustrations, one from ABC London and the Eva of the Farm book cover have been selected for the Association of Illustrators' Images exhibition and annual this summer! I'm thrilled to be successful for a third time, especially as a rather exciting project has come about from having my work in last year's Images 35.

"P is for Portobello Road and Q is for Queue" - ABC London / Frances Lincoln (as it's a few months before ABC London is published I can't show you the entire illustration yet, but here are a couple of sneak-preview snippets!):

Eva of the Farm by Dia Calhoun / Simon & Schuster (USA):

P.S. I had a fantastic weekend exhibiting at The Book Barge, more on that to follow! In the meantime there are some photos here.

Coming to a Book Barge near you!

2012-01-26T17:03:00.000Z

There's more information in my last post, but if you're a Staffordshire local or fancy a day out it would be great to see you there!

Pop-Up Shop and Exhibition in Staffordshire

2012-01-25T14:05:00.000Z

Hoist the main sail! Step aboard The Book Barge this weekend for a pop-up shop and exhibition of my work.

For two days only I will be pirating the fair vessel and alongside the usual literary delights you will find original artwork from Magpie’s Treasure and the soon-to-be published ABC London (out in June 2012) as well as prints, brooches, cards and quite possibly part of the famous, travelling YSP aviary!

Come along from some spur-of-the-moment collaging and drawing, book signing, pirate-hat making, and general skull-duggery on the high seas of Barton Marina (map here).

Free entry and a free postcard. What a bargain.

It really would be marvellous to see you there.

The Great Studio Clean of 2012

2012-01-12T15:56:00.001Z

I bring you before,

and, most gloriously, after...

It's taken me a day and a half to achieve such organisation! My greatest feat involved sorting though heaps of the magazines I use for collaging; instead of teetering in avalanche prone piles they are now neatly stacked on one shelf, although I haven't yet gone so far as to categorise by genre.

I have no idea how long this will last, but for now I am luxuriating in paper neatly piled in plan chests and floorboards twice swept and hoovered as far as the eye can see.

SALE!

2011-12-26T18:32:00.000Z

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas!

Just a quick post to let you know that you can use this code - GOODCHEER20 - to receive a seasonal 20% off everything in my Etsy shop, or visit my Notonthehighstreet.com shop to get 20% off lots of goodies there too!

Here is our tree (please excuse the very grainy photo), which underwent a severe pruning before we finally managed to squeeze it into place on Thursday!

Enjoy the last few days of 2011! x

Notonthehighstreet.com

2011-12-07T09:55:00.001Z

After about 11 months of preparation, my Notonthehighstreet.com shop is finally LIVE! I genuinely did sign up for the shop in January but have had such a busy year illustrating that it was only after I finished ABC London in September that I was able to concentrate on setting it up. I'm thrilled it's all come together, and it wouldn't look half as lovely without the super photography by Holly Booth.

Along with all the usual prints, brooches and cards I have also listed some of the remaining Yorkshire Sculpture Park birds, so if you fancy receiving a gift-wrapped, giant, collaged, pink flamingo by courier this Christmas, this is the place to shop! Free delivery is included with all items.

Buy One Get One Free on All Christmas Cards!

2011-11-25T09:24:00.001Z

Buy one pack of 6 Christmas cards and get another pack free from my shop until Monday. Two designs available, Holly Birds and Skating Girl and Snow Goose.

More lovely photography by Holly Booth. Have a great weekend!

Holly Booth's Beautiful Photography

2011-11-15T12:18:00.001Z

I've recently uploaded lots of product photos to my shop, which were taken by the very talented Holly Booth. Holly was fantastic to work with, and I'm so pleased with the final results! Here are some of my favourites.

What do you think? I'm still working on getting my Notonthehighstreet.com shop up and running but, fingers crossed, it shouldn't be too long!

Clocks for the BBC

2011-10-30T08:39:00.000Z

Here's an illustration I did for the BBC which has been up on the homepage over the weekend. Remember to change your clocks, everyone!

Here it is on the site this morning...

Home, Sweet Home

2011-10-26T11:26:00.000+01:00

Here are my latest RSPB illustrations, for March/April's issue of Wild Times! This is my sixth commission from them, so I've now illustrated the whole year round! Not sure which is my favourite... probably this one, or the hedgehogs of course.

I haven't seen Magnus since Sunday, although I have been out hunting for him with fruitcake (see original post about the extraordinary happenings here). It seems he came for just one mysterious visit - perhaps now he's flown back into his story...

You will not believe what happened today...

2011-10-23T19:30:00.001+01:00

It was truly the most brilliant and astonishing morning ever.

My very good friend Lou came to visit this weekend, and as we were walking around the farmyard this morning we found a young and seemingly quite friendly magpie perched on a piece of old machinery. I dashed off to get my camera, thinking it would make a good photo for my blog. When I ran back with my phone and a handy bowl of fat I'd found in the kitchen, the magpie was actually following Lou down the yard! He seemed to have a penchant for her wellies. I have honestly never been so full of glee in my life.

I promptly named him Magnus fed him bits of fat and barley. He even climbed up onto my back and perched on my shoulder!

All of a sudden, Magnus flew off over the barn roof and headed back towards the trees where we'd found him. I was bereft. My dreams of taking him with me to book signings were at an end.

Until, a short while later, as we were walking in a nearby field, he appeared again! I really was beside myself with glee. I started cawing to him, hoping that I sounded friendly. Slowly, we walked him back across the fields towards the house.

Eventually we made it all the way back into the garden, where we sat down to enjoy a good book...

...which Lou filmed! It's a bit blustery so you can't hear me reading very well, but Magnus definitely enjoyed it, especially the buttons. Here's the video!

Here I am wearing my most amazed expression. On the third reading he flew off and I haven't seen him since, but I'm going to try and find him again in the morning.

I'll upload more photos to my facebook page now! I still can't believe that of ALL the animals in the entire world, it was a tame magpie that found me! How amazing is that? Also, of all the people in the world, Lou is definitely the one I would choose to accompany me on such an expedition! A coincidence of fantastical proportions! I apologise for the profusion of exclamation marks but I am genuinely bursting with delight! Seven hours later.

Thank you HUGELY to Lou for following me around for ages taking photos and filming the great wild magpie chase.

Eva of the Farm - Simon and Schuster

2011-10-19T09:24:00.000+01:00

I've just added this cover illustration to my website, something I've wanted to share for ages! It was commissioned by Simon and Schuster in the U.S. last May for a wonderful book called Eva of the Farm by Dia Calhoun. I also did five black and white, interior illustrations which I'll be able to show you at a later date. I enjoyed this project hugely and I can't wait to see the finished book when it's published next summer.

Postcard Print Sets on SALE!

2011-10-05T11:37:00.000+01:00

These 3 postcard sets are now on sale! Reduced from £6.00 to £3.95.

In fact, the Walrus & Friends and Giraffe & Friends sets are soon to be discontinued and replaced with a NEW animal postcard set. So, get your Walrus while you can!

I'll also include a FREE postcard, most likely featuring bears, with your order. Great Excitement.

Hope you're are having a marvellous mid-week!

Studio Clutter

2011-09-29T14:52:00.000+01:00

I actually spent quite a lot of time tidying up yesterday, but I'm not sure that's evident in these photos! Haven't got a clue where I'm going to to keep all the work that's still up on the walls, but I must do something before it collapses...

The very talented Holly Booth is coming tomorrow to take some product photos for my shop (soon to be shopsss), so I'm trying to make some space!

It is an absolutely beautiful September day today, who would have thought it? Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine, I'm off for a walk with my Grandpa!

FANFARE! The book is finished!

2011-09-18T18:28:00.001+01:00

I have finally (last week actually, but I've been in recovery for a few days!) finished illustrating a book called ABC London for Frances Lincoln, it is (surprise, surprise!) an A to Z of London. I'm really pleased with the illustrations and it's been a great challenge, many more people and buildings than usual, but I can't wait to begin my new projects! The book will be published next year, so for now here is a small snippet.

You can now find my brooches, decorations, cards and prints in Vertiline in Love, a boutique selling all things handmade in The Nicols Building, a beautiful old warehouse in Sheffield. If you have a look at their Facebook page you can find some lovely photos showing the wonders to be found inside the building and you can also follow them on Twitter.

I've actually just adjusted the prices for my bird brooches in my Etsy shop, they're now divided into 4 different price bands based on size and intricacy. Some have actually gone down a couple of pounds, so do take a look!

King of the Heap!

2011-09-01T15:05:00.000+01:00

Here are my latest illustrations for the January/February issue of the RSPB's Wild Times magazine. The story is set entirely in a compost heap. Illustrating lots of tiny black and brown insects in black and brown compost is possibly one of the most challenging things I've done so far!

FREE Secret Garden Print With Every Etsy Order!

2011-08-31T12:31:00.000+01:00

To celebrate the centenary of one of my favourite children's books, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, I will be giving away a free giclee print of my Secret Garden poster illustration with every order from my Etsy shop this week!

Orders under £15 will receive an A5 / 6 x 8" print

Spend over £15 and you'll receive an A4 / 8 x 11" print (worth £16)

Spend over £25 and you'll receive an A3 / 11 x 16" print (worth £25)

Offer ends on Wednesday 7th at 23.59 GMT.

The flowers are growing, the roots are stirring. That is the magic.

Images 35

2011-08-24T14:14:00.001+01:00

On Thursday I will be hurtling to London to go to the Association of Illustrator's Images 35 exhibition private view at Bankside Gallery, in which my good, old Whale has been selected to appear. It's such a long time since I submitted the illustration that Whale seems quite ancient by now! I'm really looking forward to seeing all the other work on display though. If you get the chance to visit, the exhibition runs from 26 August - 2 September 2011 and the gallery is right next door to the Tate Modern.

After London, selected work from the exhibiton will be touring the UK:
Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts Centre: 26 Sept-30 Nov 2011
University of Derby: 5 Dec 2011-5 Feb 2012
Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth: 13 Feb-14 April 2012
Aberystwyth Arts Centre: 30 April-10 June 2012
Prescot Museum: 3 August - 16 October 2012

Hope you can make it!

All the fun of the Birdfair!

2011-08-22T09:55:00.002+01:00

I had a brilliant day at Birdfair on Saturday, signing books and making magpies, woodpeckers, kingfishers and blue-tits with children in the Wildlife Explorers tent. They all made such beautiful birds, and there were lots I didn't photograph including a fabulous Magnus Magpie, but here are a selection.

Thank you to all the lovely, friendly people in the RSPB team for inviting me along.

Hedgehogs again! (And an impromptu giveaway.)

2011-08-19T11:15:00.001+01:00

You've probably seen this illustration about a billion times by now, but I just received my copies of the RSPB's Wild Times children's magazine in the post, so here are the slugs and hedgehogs in their original incarnation!

*FREE HEDGEHOGS ALERT*

I have decided on a whim that the next three people to order something from my Etsy shop will get a Hungry Hedgehogs greeting card for free and the very first to do so will also receive a copy of the magazine! Just write HEDGEHOGS in the notes to seller box when you check out.

Have a lovely weekend.

A Cardinal and a Proverbial Goose

2011-08-12T00:00:00.002+01:00

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.

Well, apparently. Although I must say I am still hoping for some more shorts weather before August is out, and the geese are probably still relatively thin.

Nonetheless, this is the time of festive press releases and so forth, and my Cardinal Decoration is currently featured in Etsy's European Press Kit! Hurrah! So get in the mood for some joy and mirth, and while I would suggest erring on the side of caution and leaving the tinsel in the loft for a few more days, my birdy decorations are just the thing to brighten up your home whatever the season!

Ho ho ho.

(If this post doesn't make much sense, read this.)

Another thing: If you would like to put a penny or two in the old man's hat, the Disasters Emergency Commission's East Africa Crisis Appeal is a very worthy hat indeed.

Sorry for the lack of new work posted lately. I'm illustrating a book for Frances Lincoln at the moment, so I have covered one wall of my studio with collages, yet have nothing to show. I do have an RSPB story to illustrate before the end of the month though, this time starring Woodlouse, Centipede, Snail, Devil's Coach Horse and Worm! Coming soon to a compost heap near you.

Super NEW Cards

2011-08-01T10:16:00.000+01:00

I've had lots of lovely cards professionally printed including two new designs - Stag & Bird and Hungry Hedgehogs. I'm really pleased with the quality and finish, and all seven designs are now available in my shop.

I'm madly busy at the moment working on a book I'm illustrating for Frances Lincoln, which is why this blog has been a bit quiet lately!

Lollibop

2011-07-27T09:43:00.000+01:00

Magnus and I will be at Lollibop festival in Regent's Park, London on Sunday 7th August for some Magpie's Treasure collaging fun!

Devon

2011-07-12T10:26:00.000+01:00

I have returned from a week by the sea in heavenly north Devon. As Mrs Bennett said, "A little sea bathing would set me up for ever", and I must say agree entirely!

Ronley made an amazing kite out of sticks, plastic bags and string he found washed up on the shore and it flew so incredibly high. I wonder if I could make kites out of paper?

Hols Ahoy!

2011-07-01T23:01:00.000+01:00

At this very minute, five finished illustrations are winging their way to the U.S. and in just over six hours, I will be heading to Devon for a holiday! I have also just seen an amazing sunset, this is the view from the steps of my studio, but it was even more spectacular by the time we had raced up the fields to marvel at it. It looks much darker here too, it was really very bright.

Any Etsy orders made over the coming week will be promptly despatched on my return! I'll be at the Cambridgeshire Children's Book Awards on Wednesday 13th and at Waterstone's in Brighton on the 16th for a Magpie's Treasure reading and collage workshop!

Signing and Workshop on board The Book Barge!

2011-06-19T11:20:00.001+01:00

Good morning! Just an update following my previous post here to say that if all goes according to plan, The Book Barge will be at Camden Lock on Sunday 26th. I'll be there from 3 - 5pm signing copies of Magpie's Treasure and running a collage workshop.

If you're in London it would be marvellous to see you there! I've created a Facebook event here so you can stay up to date with any last minute changes of venue as The Book Barge wends it's way from Oxford to London sometime this week.

Miser Mistle Thrush - The RSPB

2011-06-14T11:22:00.003+01:00

I've just updated my website with the RSPB Wild Times illustration for November/December (hence the profusion of holly)! This time the story features a mistle thrush and song thrush (both rather similar), a flock or redwings and a blackbird.

I'll be at BirdFair 2011 with the RSPB on Saturday 20th August running yet another collage workshop and signing copies of Magpie's Treasure! There's more information about the fair here which is taking place at the Egleton Nature Reserve in Rutland, if you're looking for some summer holiday fun then come along - children under 16 get in free! See my previous blog post for information on signings and workshops in London over the next two weekends.

Signings and Collage Workshops Ahoy!

2011-06-14T10:15:00.003+01:00

This Saturday, the 18th JUNE, I'll be at Bedford Park Festival in Chiswick, West London, from 10 - 11am running a collage workshop for children, reading Magpie's Treasure and signing books!

Supporting the community and some great casues, this year the festival is raising money for the Upper Room charity, which helps the homeless and vulnerable of West London and a Chiswick youth charity called CEDARS, a drop-in centre for young people.

On Sunday 26th JUNE I'll be on board the extraordinary floating, now travelling Book Barge in LONDON, somewhere on the Regent's Canal, for more collage workshop fun, book signing and most exciting of all (weather permitting) the chance to sit in a deck-chair on the lately astro-turfed roof of the boat reading Magpie's Treasure to all and sundry.

If you haven't heard about The Book Barge's amazing, adventurous tour to promote independent book-selling I urge you to illuminate yourself and have a look here: The Book Barge @ Large. Aiming to live off books for the duration of her six month tour, Sarah will happily swap a book for a startling variety of things from a shower to slice of cake. To find out what The Book Barge needs and where it currently is, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Please come along if you're in the area, it would be great to see you there!

The Apple and the Egg Mini Doc

2011-06-05T18:33:00.002+01:00

Last July Nikalas Catlow of The Apple and the Egg filmed me putting up my window display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and then visited my studio in Staffordshire to interview me. Well, here is the mini-doc to prove it! I love the bits at YSP and can only say I'm spectacularly impressed to discover that Nikalas has managed to edit my almost unintelligible waffle into something resembling sentences...

I'm sorry for the profusion of ums, ahs and trailing off into silence for no apparent reason. Perhaps skip the bits where I'm speaking and marvel at the amazing time-lapse of the window (as close to an Art Attack as I am ever going to get)?

Note to self: no amount of arm waving can ever be a substitute for actual words.

If you would like to, you can watch the video here!

Thank you, Nikalas, for all your hard work!

The King and His Wish

2011-05-29T13:10:00.001+01:00

I've finally added some of the illustrations from The King and His Wish which I illustrated for Oxford University Press onto my website, here. The story is part of their Traditional Tales reading scheme and will be published in September.

Just Imagine Window Display!

2011-05-29T11:55:00.001+01:00

I spent 3 lovely days at Just Imagine in Chelmsford just over a week ago, visiting schools, installing the Magpie's Treasure window and giving a talk to their Illustrators Group. A big thank you to Nikki for lending me her window and organising the school workshops which were fab! For a chance to win a signed copy of Magpie's Treasure have a look here on the Just Imagine website!

Here are some photos of the window, more can be found on my Facebook page.

Just Imagine Events

2011-05-16T14:32:00.000+01:00

From Wednesday to Friday this week I'll be at the Just Imagine Story Centre in Chelmsford, Essex visiting schools, giving a talk and installing a Magpie's Treasure window display!

If you'd like to come to the Illustrating Children's Books group to hear my talk, tickets are available here. The group meets from 6-8pm on Thursday the 19th (don't worry, I definitely won't be speaking for the whole 2 hours!).

Here are some photos on the window in progress, Magnus will be going wild in the button factory!

The King and His Wish - Sneaky Peek

2011-05-14T10:13:00.002+01:00

Here is a snippet from the book I've illustrated for Oxford University Press, The King and His Wish. I'll put the rest up on my website some time this week.

Wild Times Indeed

2011-05-09T18:20:00.003+01:00

I received my first batch of Wild Times magazines from the RSPB last week! This is May/June's issue, although I'm just about to begin working on my fourth set of illustrations for the magazine this is the very first one in print! If you are under the illusion that the RSPB are all about birds, you are mistaken - the next two stories are mainly deer and slug orientated.

If you happen to be an RSPB member or general bird enthusiast and fancy popping along to BirdFair 2011 in Rutland on 20th August I will be there signing copies of Magpie's Treasure and running some children's workshops for the RSPB! Apparently, the British Birdwatching Fair is the world's first and largest international birdwatching event. What more could you want?

Winning Tickets!

2011-05-05T17:01:00.002+01:00

Sorry this has taken all day! I've finally drawn the winning entries for my competition out of the hat, thank you so much to everyone who has entered for your lovely comments! I can now announce the results...

The signed copy of Magpie's Treasure goes to MARIA BOGADE.
And PIPPA BRAEBURN has won the Wren and Fox prints!

HOORAY! Congratulations Maria and Pippa, please get in touch and let me know your address.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Thursday! MAGPIE'S TREASURE is out in paperback today! I'll be signing in Chelmsford and London in May and June, so hopefully see some of you there?!

Easter Give-away!

2011-04-24T16:59:00.000+01:00

Hello all you marvellous facebooking, twittering and blog-following folk!

I have reached the grand total of 500 likes on Facebook and as a token of my esteem (or indeed tokens, for there will be two) am giving away the following TWO prizes (so you have two chances to win):

ONE paperback, signed copy of Magpie's Treasure. Magpie's Treasure will be out in paperback on the 5th May! (Hence the deadline for this competition is the 4th.)

A PAIR of prints, specifically the Fox and the Wren.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below (any old nonsense will do)!

Competition closes on the 4th May at 23.59, good luck!

The Book Barge is Coming!

2011-04-12T14:41:00.004+01:00

...In all likelyhood to a canal near you. If you happen to live in England that is. Usually to be found moored in Barton Marina, Staffordshire, this wonderful, water-borne bookshop will be touring the country from May til November:

"We're going on something of a summer jolly taking in as much of the country as we can, spreading the good word(s) of independent bookselling and burning Kindles village by village. There will be pyres on the towpath and the celebratory pealing of church bells."

Read more about it here and follow their Facebook page and Twitter to stay in the know about the boat's whereabouts and events along the way. There's also a handy Book Barge @ Large page with further info.

I'll be joining The Book Barge in London and hopefully a couple of other destinations for Magpie's Treasure events galore!

T is For...

2011-03-14T13:42:00.001Z

...TAXI!

A sample illustration for a new project, which I've just added to my website.

Posts have been few and far between lately, mostly because I'm busy illustrating a book for Oxford University Press and also working at Richard Clarke First School 3 days a week as part of the Creative Partenerships scheme. I'm helping 110 children collectively write and illustrate a children's book, which although somewhat frazzling is generally hugely fun!

AIM for Art Gallery

2011-02-28T14:52:00.004Z

As I mentioned I'm taking part in an exhibiton at AIM for Art Gallery in Milton Keynes begining in March. There will be prints, birds, brooches, cards and signed copies of Magpie's Treasure for sale, and of course other illustrators/animators, although I don't know who they are yet!
Here's the poster.

Marvellous Events Are Afoot!

2011-02-25T13:12:00.000Z

During the Easter Holidays, from Monday 11th to Friday 15th April you can have the chance to help illustrate a real children's picture book on board The Book Barge at Barton Marina, Staffordshire. With my expert tuition (ahem) you can help to create the illustrations for what will become spectacular picture book to be professionally printed and sold in the shop. The £12 entrance fee includes a free copy of the finished book, all materials, refreshments and two hours of illustrating fun! To book your place email info@thebookbarge.co.uk

For more Staffordshire-based fun come along to Burton Library on the 8th of March to help celebrate International Women's Day. I'll be running a collage workshop from 1- 3 and signing books and so forth, and there will be other local artists/designers and apparently some singing too! I don't actually have much more info than that at the moment, but I will certainly let you know when I do.

FINALEMENT (for now):
I will be taking part in an illustration and animation exhibition at Aim for Art Gallery in Milton Keynes from 17th March - 19th April. The flock of birds might even make an appearance!

And the winner of the Great Bird Brooch Competition is...

2011-02-20T11:53:00.001Z

Katie Crackernuts who chose a Kingfisher brooch. Congratulations Katie!

Each of the fifteen Bird Brooches are for sale in my shop.

Bird Brooch Competition!

2011-02-15T18:53:00.006Z

For all my lovely blog readers, a chance to win a bird brooch of your choice (in slightly belated celebration of new packaging and more birds)! All you need to do is to leave a comment to say which is your favourite from the following fifteen. I'll draw names from a hat to find the winner and if you follow my blog/twitter or 'like' my Facebook page you get another entry in the hat, or two or three extra entries depending on how many!

Here come the birds (the swan also comes on a swanny piece of card, but looks better against the blue):

Competition closes at 23.59 (GMT) on Saturday. If you would like more information on a particular brooch or to buy one now have a look in my shop. Good luck and thank you!

*******Competition now closed*******

The Rabbit Girl

2011-02-14T20:30:00.000Z

I've just received my copy of The Rabbit Girl by Mary Arrigan. I was commissioned to do this cover by Frances Lincoln last April, so it's lovely to finally see the finished book! You can't tell from my photos, but the title is in silver foil - oooh!

Two Interviews (of sorts)

2011-01-29T19:08:00.002Z

I had an email a while ago from someone at Computer Arts Projects magazine asking me for photography tips. I must admit I found this hilarious, as I often feel in need of a tip or two myself! But did this prevent me from sharing my wisdom? Certainly not! After all, I have done battle with tripods on uneven surfaces, rushed to finish work on the only bright day of the week and, on an utterly miserable afternoon, resorted to parcel-taping lamps to a step ladder. So here's the article, 'Taking handmade into print', they talk to lots of other artists too and the whole February issue is about photography (perhaps I'll pick up some hints?).

I'm also in Staffordshire Life! If you too live the Staffordshire life you can find me in February's issue, talking about Magpie's Treasure and saying idiotic things like "it's nice" to be an illustrator. Which it really really is by the way, but I wish I was more eloquent on the telephone!

Hello 2011!

2011-01-05T11:56:00.000Z

Happy new year, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the festive season.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2010-12-24T15:29:00.002Z

Indeed it is. As is the family custom, I have been dashing round covered with icing sugar, pine needles and bits of sellotape in the last minute rush to get everything ready. I've also been rather busy illustration-wise this month, so my blog has been neglected. Unfortunately I haven't much I can show you at the moment, but will sort something out in the new year. For now, here I am signing books in Waterstones a couple of weeks ago!

Guardian Review Illustrations

2010-11-27T10:53:00.000Z

Here are the illustrations I did for the Guardian Review this week, whoever knew I could finish two illustrations in 24 hours?

More Staffordshire Book Signings!

2010-11-26T16:14:00.001Z

I've got a couple more Magpie's Treasure book signings coming up before Christmas, both of them are in the area where I grew up. I'll be at Byrkley Garden Centre on Sunday the 5th of December from 1pm and Waterstones in Burton-on-Trent on Saturday the 11th. Come along if you can, it would be marvellous to see you!

I also entered my the Association of Illustrators' Images 35 competition and was successful! The annual won't be published until September next year, but you can see my work in the current Images 34 exhibition which is touring the country until October 2011.

Even More Bird Brooches...

2010-11-12T18:36:00.001Z

Lots more bird brooches have now arrived in my shop! Here are Parakeet, Robin, Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Bullfinch and Toucan. Each bird is lovingly printed on high res matte paper, mounted on thick, sturdy card, cut out by hand and varnished all over! They're also signed by my very self.

The brooches are made from the collaged birds I created for my window display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Still to come... flamingo and swan!

Also there is a rather nice review of Magpie's Treasure here.

Continuing on the birdy theme, I visited the RSPB headquarters yesterday. More bird illustrations afoot! I have been devoting a bit more time to bears lately, so will hopefully have some of those to share with you soon.

Wren

2010-11-03T16:46:00.000Z

This friendly wren was commissioned to adorn the wall of a house called Wren Park. It's now available as a giclee print in my shop.

Magnus Visits The Book Barge

2010-10-30T19:17:00.036+01:00

Yesterday Magnus and I went to The Book Barge in Barton Marina, Staffordshire for my first book signing of Magpie's Treasure! It was brilliant, thank you so much to everyone who came along and to Sarah for hosting the event in her amazing, floating book shop.

The collage workshop was a lot of fun, even if The Book Barge did descend into a papery chaos as children made beautiful buttons and jewels for giant Magnus to wear! Unfortunately, somehow in the midst of all the glitter glue, chocolate and making sure I spelled everyone's names correctly, I neglected to take any photos of Magnus resplendent in his finery, but let me assure you he was a sight to behold!

If you ever happen to be in the area The Book Barge is absolutely definitely worth a visit. It's such a lovely bookshop and alongside a fantastic range of classic, contemporary and children's books are lots of interesting second hand books to peruse. I bought (well... my mum and dad bought it for me as a congratulatory present) a wonderful copy of Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows illustrated by one of my absolute favourite illustrators, John Burningham.

When I was little, my Grandpa would take me to the library van that came every week to the village and one of my favourites was Burningham's Where's Julius? Definitely one to look out for.

Etsy Interview!

2010-10-29T22:19:00.003+01:00

I've been interviewed about Magpie's Treasure over on the UK Edition, Etsy's UK blog. You can read the interview here! It's so exciting to be featured, in fact I've had a brilliant day altogether with my first book signing, which I will definitely be blogging about very soon.

In the meantime, I've just added this friendly, festive Robin Decoration to my shop! It's... well, almost November, so why not treat yourself?

Magpie's Treasure is Published Today!

2010-10-28T18:00:00.001+01:00

It's probably not very professional to go to Foyles and on the day your first children's book is published and take photographs, but that's exactly what I did today! Just to make sure it was actually real.

So, I can now reliably inform you that Magpie's Treasure is available for purchase in all good bookshops (or at least this one)! You can alternatively buy it on Amazon here.

After my jaunt to Charing Cross Road I caught the train to Staffordshire, because tomorrow morning I have my very first book signing. If you're in the area come along to The Book Barge at Barton Marina between 10 and 12 for some collaging fun!

Also, a big thank you also to everyone who entered my competition for your lovely comments, the winner is announced below!

And the winner is...

2010-10-28T11:14:00.002+01:00

Congratulations Lisa!

Please email me with your address and Magnus Magpie will be winging his way to you very soon!

Win a signed copy of MAGPIE'S TREASURE!

2010-10-21T09:39:00.002+01:00

Precisely one week today, on the 28th of October 2010, my very-first-ever children's picture book, Magpie's Treasure, will be published by Andersen Press!

So to celebrate I'm going give a signed copy away! Yes indeed, I'll even draw something for you as well. All you need to do is leave a comment below! Competition ends at 11.59pm on Wednesday the 27th. I'll pick a number at random to find the winner and post their name here on the 28th.

You don't have to be in the UK to enter!

Good Luck!

PS. Just in case you aren't already aware, I am VERY excited. When I was six I wanted to be a bath cleaner and when I was seven I decided I'd like to write children's books instead, which amounts to seventeen years of dreaming/determination.

If you could also please retweet / facebook / blog / sing about it, that would be extra-wonderful! Thank you.

Henry VIII

2010-10-19T15:44:00.000+01:00

I've wanted to collage Henry for a while, especially his hat.

Only 9 days to go until Magpie's Treasure is published! Keep your eyes peeled for a celebratory competition...

Magpie's Treasure Signing at The Book Barge, Staffordshire

2010-10-05T11:50:00.002+01:00

My first book signing will be back in Staffordshire on the wonderful Book Barge on Barton Marina (near Burton-on-Trent) on the 29th of October! In a village not far from where I grew up, I will be reading and signing copies of Magpie's Treasure and also running a collage workshop for children. Drop in any time between 10am and midday, entry £1 per child, including refreshments and 10% discount on the book.

Great excitement!

Christmas Card

2010-10-04T13:50:00.000+01:00

I know it's a bit early to be contemplating Christmas, but someone asked me to design a Christmas card which would also notify people of her new address. She has a lovely dog called Sam, who is very much adored by his owner, hence this canine Christmas card!

Magpie's Treasure - On Sale 28th October

2010-10-01T09:37:00.000+01:00

I received a box of books in the post this week! Amazing-amazing-amazing-amazing-amazing-amazing. Magnus Magpie is on his way! You can pre-order Magpie's Treasure here or even buy it in a BOOK SHOP on the 28th of October! Good grief, I can barely keep hold of my scissors.

Bird Brooches and Other Wares

2010-09-21T19:00:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to say there are now a few Bird Brooches available in my shop with more to come soon! I've also added a few more prints, all are now available in two sizes, A3 / 11 x 16.5" and A4 / 8 x 11". Marvellous.

Images 34 Exhibition

2010-09-10T12:22:00.002+01:00

I had a marvellous time at the Association of Illustrators Images 34 private view on Tuesday. Here's my Find the Golden Egg illustration which was part of the work I did for Zig ad agency and Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in the U.S. The exhibition is on til the 14th of September at the London College of Communication, if you get the chance to go there's some great work on display!

I must also say thank you to Kickan & Conkers for the lovely blog about window display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park! I think I'll try and find another window to hang the birds in if I can, and in the meantime keep a look out in my shop over the weekend as I'll be adding some of the work I created for YSP.

P.S. I've just learnt that my work has been selected from the exhibition to be part of the national tour. Over the next year the Images 34 exhibition will travel the country, you can find out where it's going to be and when here (scroll right to the bottom, some venues are yet to be confirmed).

Farewell to the Flock

2010-09-06T15:49:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I went up to Yorkshire Sculpture Park to dismantle my window display. Apart from taking only a fraction of the time it took to hang the birds up, I was sorry to bring them all back to earth! I never did post any photos of the birds here, as I didn't take any in the beginning and am still waiting for stills from the filming. So here are a few I took yesterday. Unfortunately due to the violet, lit-up sign opposite the window, it was difficult to take a very good picture, but I hope these will give you an inkling of what the flock looked like in full flight!

I also sold original, 3D illustrations, brooches, cards and prints in an applied arts showcase in the shop. Those which weren't sold at YSP will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop, so keep your eyes peeled for bears, giraffes and racing wildebeest!

Finally, and most exciting of all, YSP have been selling a few advance copies of Magpie's Treasure. I've heard they've sold really well so far and was thrilled to meet someone who was just about to buy a copy for her son yesterday, so my first ever signed book went to a little boy called Busby! It was quite nerve wracking as I had the absurd feeling that I ought not to spoil the beautiful, pristine title page with my scrawl... I suppose I'll have to get over that!

Lakes, Cats and Images 34

2010-09-03T11:40:00.000+01:00

I've been drawing a lot of animals this week aimed more towards toddlers, from cats to owls to elephants. So here are a few of the feline variety.

Things have been rather quiet on the blogging front lately as I had a weekend away in the most glorious and sunny Lake District. I did draw very slightly, but apart from that it was a complete, relaxing break. Here is beautiful Windermere, which for August bank holiday was surprisingly peaceful!

It might have been sunny, but it was VERY cold and windy on the lake...

Finally, on Tuesday it's the private view for the AOI Images 34 exhibition! The exhibition will be open to the public from the 8th to the 14th at London College of Communication in Elephant and Castle. Here is the illustration I did for Zig ad agency/Ethel's Chocolate Lounge last year which has been selected. Can't wait to get my copy of the Images 34 annual!

Just So Festival

2010-08-22T12:34:00.001+01:00

Magnus and I had a great time at Just So Festival on Saturday. The festival was held in a beautiful wood, made no less magical by the rain and mud. Here's Magnus fully dressed in sparkly jewels made at the collage workshop I ran. I especially love his rather dashing hat!

Leopard

2010-08-18T17:38:00.001+01:00

A very speedy leopard. I've been languishing in bed with a horrible virus and my hot water bottle for over a week, so unfortunately he's all I have to show. I've also been planning a new zine featuring my YSP birds (yes indeed, I did scan them all in on my A4 scanner before I hung them up - even the enormous Pelican) but perhaps it's time for a new obsession - leopards might be fun, the spots would certainly be a challenge!

Cornershop - Free Love

2010-08-12T19:19:00.001+01:00

This is from quite a while ago and know I've blogged about it many times before but I've just discovered how to embed videos into my blog! At least I think I have, the proof of the pudding is in watching the pudding and so on.

So here goes. The music video for Cornershop's 'Free Love', featuring my foil city extravaganza, directed by Chris Hemming of Passion Pictures.

Yet Another Bear...

2010-08-04T12:30:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Magnus Magpie!

2010-07-30T11:44:00.001+01:00

My advance copy of Magpie's Treasure arrived in the post this morning! It is in fact the most wonderful post I have ever received.

Website Updated!

2010-07-25T11:20:00.003+01:00

I've just updated my website with a few of the 3D pieces I'm currently selling at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Some of my work will also soon be in stock at the lovely Cherry Cherry shop in Norwich.

Ooh AND advance copies of Magpie's Treasure are on their way! Verrrrrrrry great excitement.

Owl Enlightens Giraffe

2010-07-22T20:32:00.001+01:00

Owl enlightens Giraffe on the day's important happenings in the universe and Giraffe is mildly amused.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

2010-07-09T19:03:00.001+01:00

Yesterday my flock of 44 birds finally made their way to Yorkshire Sculpture Park! They can now be seen winging their way across the shop window and are, from the tiniest Long-tailed Tit to the most enormous Pelican, available to buy. I'm also selling some paper and wire 3D illustrations, bird brooches and decorations, cards and prints.

I haven't yet got any photographs to show you, but there will be plenty on their way soon! It took over five hours to hang all the birds, and I was wonderfully and most ably assisted by my mum and sister. I absolutely could not have done it without them as they spent the entire day tying on fishing wire and holding the birds in place while I teetered atop a ladder with a staple gun. (Anyone who is aware of my utter lack of balance and all round clumsiness should have seen me making a desperate lunge to a far corner with the stapler, while Felicity held on to my ankles for her dear life, and mine.)

For now, here is one of the illustrations available to buy from tomorrow. YSP is in such a beautiful part of the country and is really easy to get to (just off the M1), so if you fancy a summer jaunt to a glorious, enormous park of sculptures, YSP is the place for you!

Magnus Enormous

2010-07-02T16:09:00.000+01:00

I've just finished making this rather large Magnus Magpie for tomorrow's workshop at Foyles on the Southbank. I wasn't expecting him to turn out quite so big, so I'll need lots of people to help decorate him with treasure! I'll be there with paper, glitter glue and sequins a-plenty between 12 and 1pm for some collaging fun to celebrate Foyles' 5th birthday!

Magpie's Treasure at Foyles 5th Anniversary

2010-06-28T18:12:00.000+01:00

It's 5 years since Foyles opened their doors at the Southbank Centre in London and on Saturday I'll be there with Magpie's Treasure to help them celebrate!

Come along and say hello between 12 and 12.30 for some sparkly, treasure-filled fun with Magnus!

I've just come back from a wonderful week in the beautiful West Highlands of Scotland. It was even sunny enough to lure me into the freezing sea! Here I am with my sketchpad, on a rock. In a Loch. Unfortunately I was then lured off the rock to look at a fish, and fell in.

Verde Magazine

2010-06-08T10:42:00.000+01:00

Editorial illustration for the Swiss magazine Verde.

Sunflower Mail-Out Design

2010-06-05T12:07:00.001+01:00

This is part of a mail-out I'm working on at the moment. Indeed, I'm spending this sunny Saturday printing them, although I might treat myself to a break while I go and bulk buy stamps...

'Rabbit Girl' for Frances Lincoln

2010-05-25T16:15:00.002+01:00

A recent cover illustration for Frances Lincoln Publishers, 'Rabbit Girl' by Mary Arrigan.

Fanfare: Website Finally Updated!

2010-05-18T20:13:00.002+01:00

It might not be the fanciest website in all the land but I have added a few new pieces, not all of them in the 'New' section, oddly enough. Unfortunately the instantaneous nature of blogging means you'll probably have see them before. However, I have a couple of others up my sleeves and will try and update more promptly in the future!

In other news, my coffin for the Happy Journey Collective has been featured on Escape From Illustration Island which is nice.

Also I have quite a few Magpie's Treasure postcards left over from Linton Children's Book Festival so I'll be sending one with every order from my Etsy shop! They're very lovely and feature the above picture of Magnus hurtling homewards through space. Marvellous.

SING

2010-05-13T09:25:00.000+01:00

Animals in song which spell out 'sing' (sort of).

Interview on Tina Webster's Blog

2010-05-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

The brilliant, talented Tina Webster has interviewed me on her super-snazzy blog!

Linton Children's Book Festival

2010-05-09T12:26:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I went to Linton Children's book festival in Cambridgeshire where I ran a magpie nest building workshop! As you can see in this photo (which I've just pinched from the book festival website) it involved a LOT of shiny sweet wrappers and Easter egg foil and was a lot of fun! The nests the children made were brilliant and much more interesting than my effort (to the right). I took my proof copy of 'Magpie's Treasure' along and it was wonderful to hear some of the parents read it to their children.

The Happy Journey

2010-04-30T21:05:00.001+01:00

I designed this coffin for The Happy Journey Collective. A great project with a somewhat unusual brief, have a look at the site and all will be revealed! There are some great designs and you can get involved too. The caption is from 'Transformations' by Thomas Hardy, a poem I love.

Whale

2010-04-26T13:45:00.002+01:00

A sample I did a while ago.

Petrova Fossil

2010-04-21T16:46:00.003+01:00

Oh no, this time it's not a bird, not even any kind of animal, it's a girl! It's Petrova Fossil (of Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes). I found her while sorting through my sketchbooks and thought, it's a mighty long time since I posted something neither feathered nor furred on this blog. So here she is wearing an old, cut-down mac of Mr Simpson's (most suitable for tinkering with car engines).

On another note, I seem to suddenly have quite a few more followers, which is lovely. Hello!

A Flourishing Flock

2010-04-12T18:04:00.006+01:00

I've been quite busy lately, but the only things I can show you at the moment are the Yorkshire Sculpture Park birds. So here are 19 of them spread across the dining room table in Staffordshire-home (as opposed to London-home)! In fact, it's a good job I can whizz up to Staffordshire to work sometimes because I'd struggle to fit this gaggle into my room. And I haven't even started the pelican.

Storm-chasers!

2010-03-31T15:35:00.002+01:00

Did you know that wildebeest can sense a storm from 30 miles away, even if the wind is blowing it away from them? The things you learn from Radio 4! I'm thinking of doing a series on the theme of animal cognition.

Red-Legged Partridge (for Felicity)

2010-03-25T17:51:00.001Z

I will try and post something other than birds soon, but for now, here is my latest feathered creation, the Red-Legged Partridge Alectoris Rufa. Not to be confused with the Partridge Perdix Perdix, mainly because I like these ones better. My sister once spotted one strutting along, puffed-out and red-eyed in our garden and the photograph she took makes me laugh every time I see it. She requested a partridge next, so here it is ready for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in July! Any other suggestions? I've made 17 out of 50ish birds so far so a few spaces to fill!

Parrot

2010-03-10T19:14:00.000Z

Kestrel

2010-02-17T11:33:00.007Z

Here amid the chaos of my desk is a kestrel, one of the birds (so far I have... three) that I've been working on for the afore-mentioned YSP window display. My whole studio is as messy as this photo, which means I must have had a productive few days in Staffordshire! When I become really engrossed in collage I feel like I'm seven again, plastering tissue paper with PVA or using wallpaper paste and newspaper to make another papier mache extravaganza. That is until I realise my fingers are attached to my desk by stringy webs of craft glue with fragments of paper caught in them like flies, and I'm in danger of balding myself with over-enthusiastic use of the scissors.

Today I'm drawing rather than sticking, as I'm back in London briefly for a meeting tomorrow which I'm really looking forward too. All these jaunts from London to the Midlands and back are making me feel like a real commuter, although while the business folk tap away on their lap-tops I find myself appraising their paper take-away bags for collage potential. I'm really enjoying spending more time on the farm anyway, especially as when I walk out of my studio I can see this:

and this:

On the other hand, I think I'll go to the V&A tomorrow afternoon, London definitely has its advantages!

Flocking to YSP

2010-02-09T14:13:00.006Z

The last three weeks have been utterly hectic because I'm moving between flats in London, which means I'm temporarily in deepest Staffordshire until March. I'm taking advantage of being at home (home is still the farm, I can't quite reconcile myself with being a permanent Londoner) and today I've been mapping out a full-scale version of this rough on my parents' dining room wall (my studio walls were too small)!

It's hopefully the plan for my Yorkshire Sculpture Park window, only the real thing will be made from paper and 2.7 metres high... wish me luck!

Lion in Progress

2010-01-23T15:17:00.000Z

I've been madly flat-hunting for the last week, so work has taken a bit of a back seat. However I did find time to rustle up this lion, which I haven't finished yet, or decided what to do with. I'm creating a window display for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park shop in the summer and was determined to work on things to sell while it's up, although quite where a lion fits in I have not a clue...

Handmade Graphics

2010-01-16T21:56:00.000Z

My work is featured in Handmade Graphics by Anna Wray. I finally bought a copy of this super duper book yesterday and here it is!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-09T17:43:00.000Z

Happy New Year! (If slightly on the late side.) 'Happiness all round' is something my marvellous Grandpa once proposed a toast to. I hope everyone is having a wonderful 2010, and if you are freezing in Britain (or freezing anywhere else) I hope this unseasonably tropical illustration warms you up!

Digital Arts Magazine

2010-01-06T15:47:00.005Z

Of all the magazines in the land, I never thought my work would appear in Digital Arts Magazine (the tools of my trade being largely paper and glue). However, January's issue has a spotlight feature on the music video for Cornershop's "Free Love" which I worked on with Chris Hemming from Passion Pictures!

My work also appears in the book Handmade Graphics by Anna Wray of Lo-fi Creative, which I haven't actually seen yet.

I'm heading back to London tomorrow after spending Christmas in Staffordshire with my family. It's actually been snowing (apparently this is now entirely commonplace in the rest of the UK, but until yesterday we had missed out), so I'll have to swap the beautiful snowy farm for London's icy pavements!

I've also been trying to improve my shop with new photos and so on, so have a look and let me know what you think!

Christmas Treasure

2009-12-30T16:19:00.000Z

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! I've escaped to the countryside and the farm for familial festivities (Magnus loves a bauble or two).

Christmas Card

2009-12-16T16:35:00.001Z

I've just rustled up this illustration for my Christmas Cards, I'm now going to venture out into what I think has sadly become drizzle (it was snowing earlier!) to post them. Merry Christmas one and all!

Hello Robin Redbreast

2009-12-12T15:06:00.000Z

Half way through advent today, so here is a robin.

Bears and cards and all manner of delights (although the delights are largely bear-shaped)...

2009-12-10T11:23:00.002Z

I've added more cards to my shop! This time Bears are Best, a set of 4 bear postcard prints and also a Bumbling Bear greetings card.

I seem to have gained quite a few new followers lately, hello everyone!

Promotion promotion promotion...

2009-12-01T16:58:00.003Z

Far too much printing and cutting and folding and sticking, but finally these mail-outs are on their way into the wide world.

Magnus is on his way!

2009-11-25T10:52:00.006Z

Now this is probably something only my family would get excited about, but here is 'Magpie's Treasure' in the Andersen Press Spring 2010 catalogue! It's actually, truly, really real! Amazing.

Oooh, also Magnus and I are going to the Just So Festival in August! There are tents and glades for different activities and the words "enormous collages" were mentioned, so obviously I seized up with excitement.

Website Updated with 'Magpie's Treasure'

2009-11-06T22:56:00.001Z

I've just updated my website with some of the artwork from 'Magpie's Treasure' (my-first-children's-book-published-by-Andersen-Press-in-June-don't-you-know), so you can now have a sneak preview here! I've also added some of the stills from 'Free Love', peruse at your leisure.