I like anniversaries, especially when they concern my illustrations! So here’s another fond memory – this year is the 30th anniversary of the publication of Elsie Locke’s A Canoe in the Mist. This was my third commissioned book contract, after Jeremy Strong’s Fatbag (A & C Black) and Roger Collinson’s Get Lavinia Goodbody! (Andersen Press), both first released in 1983. Like them, it was a commission for black and white text drawings to a novel. Unlike those titles however, bo

Some of the full page interior cuts from the new edition of Michael Rosen’s “Nasty”. The Book consists of a series of comic horror tall tales related by a woman first met by the narrator in a London pub. Among other things a giant flea infesting the Underground, belligerent wasps in the middle of winter, poisonous burgers, mouse hypnotising, and a runaway grizzy bear, lots of fun to illustrate. The book is released on 6th August and can be pre-ordered from Amazon. #mystery #m

The latest book I’ve been working on is a new edition of Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen‘s “Nasty” for Barn Owl Books in London. First released in the 1980’s, this new edition will run with 25 black and white text drawings by yours truly, plus colour cover. All will be revealed in August when the book is released, in the meantime here’s a sneak preview of the cover design. #mybooks #MichaelRosen #Nasty #childrensbooks #novel

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the drawings from the book. One of the most interesting things about working on historical fiction is researching the period. I’ve always been fascinated by history, I often think if I wasn’t an illustrator I’d have become a researcher or archaeologist, nevertheless I have to admit my knowledge of 1880’s Colorado was limited. Nowadays the internet is a great help in finding accurate period references, but the publishers also kindly sent me a

Here’s a few interior drawings from Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (Japanese title: Umi ni Kirameku Kagami no Shiro). It’s just been released in Japan now. #mybooks #CharlieBone #blackandwhite #novel #penandink

Alright, so I’ve finally been tempted to have a go at a blog. Once I’ve learned how all this works I’ll be posting away like crazy no doubt, but for now, here’s a recent illustration. It’s the cover to the Japanese edition of “The Blue Boa”, the third in the Charlie Bone series of novels by Jenny Nimmo. Published by Tokuma Shoten in Tokyo. #mybooks #CharlieBone #JennyNimmo #childrensbooks #novel