busy

 

Last few weeks were rather busy for both me and Stockton the Cat. He is trying really hard to get his new sweater done before the winter comes but it is not as easy as it seems. And I was busy getting the illustrations ready and mostly torturing poor Stockton. But don't worry - he'll be fine. 

Otherwise, ten sleeps to Mongolia! Which reminds me that I've never posted the sketches from our trip to Poland (not to mention sketches from a lovely birthday trip to Aberdeenshire two weeks ago).

Black Beauty is published!

 

 

Black Beauty I illustrated fo Ladybird Books is published and I can finally post some pictures. Yay! I am very with pleased with the way it turned - they did a really great job and the book looks lovely. You can get it directly through Ladybird Books website or through here. It is part of a series Ladybird Classics and other books look amazing too.

I posted a few of my favourite illustrations from the book. Most of them are rather sad and dramatic but Black Beauty is not exactly a cheerful story (even when retold for smaller children).

Before I started working on this book I had no idea I could draw a horse and was always too scared to try. It turns out they are not as difficult as people think. Slightly more demanding than mice though;)

back from holiday and exciting news

I think it is going to take me a while before I post all the sketches and photos from our long and not very relaxing (at least not in a classic way) trip to Poland. Here is just one. Two German guys sitting on a bench and chatting - the one on the right looked like 36C was too much for him.

Back to Edinburgh now and a lot is happening. First great news is that Black Beauty I illustrated for Ladybird Books is published!!! There will be a full post about it soon with illustrations etc. They did a great job and the book looks really lovely. You can see it here. More pictures soon!

all is good

A little sneak peek from one of the projects I am working on at the moment.
The cat is happy. All is good.

Jessie the Crocodile visits Stockholm

No illustrations today. Very much delayed photos from our trip to Stockholm instead. I already blogged my sketches from the trip and some random thoughts. Jessie the Crocodile enjoyed the holiday too.

Stockton the cat and good news

I have not been posting for a while and been mostly offline.
A few more or less exciting things have happened recently:

1. The summer came to Edinburgh and the whole city smelled of bbq for a few days.
2. I was mainly busy working on the guy above. His name is Stockton (thank you Kate and Marc!) and he is a very creative cat.
3. We've got some very good news. (Congratulations Konrad!)
4. And perhaps the most exciting of all we booked tickets Edinburgh - Istanbul - Ulan Bator! Return.
I am not sure what I am more happy about - returning to Istanbul which basically is the best city I've ever been to or 3 weeks travelling in Mongolia.

lucky star

A quick illustration inspired by a tiny little good thing that made me very happy yesterday. I like it when good things happen.

(update: I thought this picture would work well for Illustration Friday topic: Space)

favourite duck

One of these pictures that all of a sudden appear in your sketchbook and you have no idea where they came from. All you need to do is to add some texture and colour.

stockholm

Some sketches from our trip to Stockholm. A mixture of drawings from life, illustrations directly inspired by the trip and some random stuff that is going on inside my brain. I am always slightly uncomfortable when I share the stream of conciousness sort of thing on this blog. Fresh and not edited thoughts,  much more personal than finished illustrations or photos.
Otherwise, Stockholm is amazing and there is much more to it than a bunch of bears and cats running around and enjoying their afternoon coffee. My Stockholm top five:
1. Swedish breakfast.
2. Cardamom buns.
3. Area near Slussen metro station.
4. Skeletons in The Vasa Museum.
5. SoFo.

doodles again

Some doodles documenting recent trips and other fun stuff.

Vivaldi the cat is having champagne afternoon tea in Hopetoun Estate Tearooms.
I only had a tea with lemon. 

Boris the bear makes friends with a boar. 

Vivaldi the cat and his recent favourite activities.