the big house

I have recently finished illustrating this house which will be joining approximately ninety nine other houses of all shapes and sizes at the Bristol Tobacco Factory's upcoming exhibition 100 Houses on 16 November.  I am incredibly excited to be sharing wall space with so many extraordinary talents!

My house, which started life in a yurt in Wales, is based on 'The Big House' from the novel Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan, a superb tale set in surburbian Malaysia.  The bright kingfisher blue house, the biggest on the street, and the subject of many tall tales from the prying eyes of its neighbouring homes, houses a complex and quite tragically dysfunctional family, all of whom are dreaming of escape.

Pick up a copy if you can, the writing is very compelling, intelligent and very beautiful.

Autumn makes me happy.

a very british, winterish sort of holiday

Photos courtesy of J Watts

For the past few days, I have adopted a lifestyle that any hungry, adventuring, book reading, fireplace dwelling hobbit would be proud of, in the heart of the Black Mountains in Wales.  I can tell I'm going to miss the dewy, lush, mossy landscapes and candle lit suppers, but am quietly relieved to be rid of the bonfire smell that was clinging to my clothes (however much I love it), and to have quick, easy access to tea making facilities once again!  I haven't quite re-acquanited myself with my sketchbook yet, but I'm (almost...ish) raring to go!

I have just impulse-bought an album by Bristol based Rozi Plain after hearing a beautiful song of hers on the radio...I urge you to go and check her out!

a little look at LOAf

Thanks to all of those who helped LOAf magazine secure its funding for its first ever issue!  I am sort of itching to share my piece, so I've put some square snippets of it up above.

Currently enjoying:

Making this delicious berry crumble cake (go on, give it a go!)

The mesmerising imagery of Becca Stadtlander

The new Fionn Regan record (beautiful)

The new Grizzly Bear record

Jane Austen related films

Evening is the Whole Day

forgotten things

I designed these journal covers around the end of last year as a sort of pitch for a project with a lovely independent publisher, who I have done some more work with this year.  It has only just occurred to me that I should probably put them on my blog so that they can see the light of day!

fourteen

I have recently finished this print for my nephew, who's just turned fourteen (fourteen?!  How did that happen?) and wanted something to put in his newly-blue room for his birthday.

Gone are the days of play-fighting and drawing pictures together, or pretending to be explorers with electric-tape-moustaches, and eventually giving in to anime videos for a brief, but blissful rest from all of the curiosity, and questions and running around.  But what a marvellous lad he has grown into (still curious, still inquisitive and as sharp as an axe).  Anyway, I hope he will like this collection of moths; one for each year we've been fortunate to have him around.  Happy birthday Aaran!

just a handful of photographs...

Foraging for bouquets of wild flowers, and enjoying views of the plains in Wiltshire.

Scenes from Bristol Harbour Festival.

Somewhere in the middle of this one is a beautiful view of Bristol from atop Ashton Court.

Sometimes the only antidote for a stressful day is a brisk stroll into Clifton

and talking it out over chips.

And giving yourself clear visual reminders to foster the happy mood gleamed 

from a brisk stroll and chips.

Werc at work at Bristol's fantastic See No Evil project in Nelson Street.  So impressive.