Cycling in Outer Hebrides 2016

Sketches from my not that recent cycling tour in the Outer Hebrides.
It has become a bit of a tradition that every summer I pack my tent, camping gear and a few other useful things into my panniers and I spend a week cycling in the Western Isles, by far my favourite place in the world.

There is not many things that make me happier than cycling through the spectacular Hebridean landscapes, getting soaked by the rain, almost knocked over by the wind and defeated by particularly steep climbs.

This year I cycled 200 miles through Skye, North Uist, Bernaray, Harris and Lewis. The weather was spectacularly bad even for the Hebrides and I would get completely soaked by the rain twice or three times a day. I've developed an affinity for automatic hand driers in public bathrooms and I could write an essay on different types of  hand driers and which are best for drying what type of clothes.

But I don't really mind a bit of rain if I can spend a week cycling through the most beautiful landscapes, watch the seals swimming in the Sound of Harris without even having to leave my tent, meet lots of interesting and friendly people and drink whisky in a pub in Stornoway.

Here is a few drawings I made. For some reason they are particularly dark this year - I will have to bring more colours next year!

Comic for Wysokie Obcasy Extra

An editorial / comic piece I did for Wysokie Obcasy Extra magazine back in July.
And a work-in-progress photo from my mobile studio. I very often work while travelling but this was probably the first time the whole thing was created when travelling on intercity trains in Poland.

 

I am a Very Clever Cat is out

I am a Very Clever Cat, my first author and illustrator picture book has been published earlier this month and here is a few pictures from it. I am super excited about the way it turned out, particularly about the neon pink wool throught the book - the photos don't really show how bright it is!

And if you want to read more about the process and inspiration here is an interview I did for Picture Hooks.

COMING SOON!!!

I am very happy to annouce that 'I am a Very Clever Cat', the first picture book where I am both author and illustrator will be soon published by Templar Books! The publication date is 8th September and you can pre-order it here.

I am super excited about the book and I will be blogging and shouting about it more closer to the publication date.

The Fourth Bonniest Baby in Dundee

'The Fourth Bonniest Baby in Dundee' has just been published by Floris Books! Beautifully written by Michelle Sloan, a hillarious and very lively story about a mum and big sister taking a baby to the contest for The Bonniest Baby in Dundee.
It was a lot of fun to work on, even though, it was probably the busiest book I have ever illustrated - I ended up drawing 104 characters (not including animals) throughout the book.
I also ad lots of fun drawing the actual places and landmarks from Dundee.

Król

A few illustrations from 'Król', a picture book I illustrated for Dwie Siostry Publishing earlier this year. This is the second book in the series written by Ewa Madeyska. A beautiful text and a strong message - the story is about a girl Frania who is bullied by two very naughty boys. Things are really bad to start with but then Frania meets a new friend, a boy on a wheelchair called Artur and becomes a knight. A lovely story about self-acceptance, empowerment and inclusiveness. It is always super exciting to illustrate a book about a girl, who becomes a knight (and not a princess!) .