We update our news pages on a regular basis with interesting jobs that our illustrators have done, new signings, and any other information that we can think of. Do visit and find out what our artists have been up to!
The Arch Hotel in London have commissioned the brilliant Stephen Lee to do caricatures of the three party leaders for an election celebration in their restaurant. Stephen's illustrations will adorn their website, menus and using a very nifty bit of kit, actually print them on special Election Eclairs! Look out for the launch date on their website.
MARK BEECH is no stranger to children's books, he has worked on a whole host of children-related projects since becoming an illustrator, including a variety of fiction. After having illustrated the Troll and Warts series written by Alan Macdonald, Bloomsbury got in touch and Mark was working on his first picture book - The Everyday Witch by Liz Martinez. Mark explains...
“The art director sent me Liz Martinez's manuscript and told me to get cracking. That was the brief! Its not often I get carte blanche on a project, which makes working with Bloomsbury such a pleasure. I only had about four weeks or so to do it, so it was a rather high speed introduction to picture books - but it was great fun. I come from Pendle in Lancashire which is famous for the Pendle witches who were burnt at the stake in the 1600's for their witchcraft, so folklore about witches is something I was brought up with and I really enjoyed the book from this aspect too. I remember many a Halloween as a child hiding under the duvet in case the 'witches' came to get me.
“The story is about a little boy called Jimmy who, over time begins to suspect that there is something different about his mum. After a trip to the library to do a little sleuthing Jimmy realises that casting spells and having a broomstick that flies is evidence that his mum is indeed a witch, but after talking with her he learns that she is not an evil nasty witch at all. She is a kind witch that uses her powers for healing and she is not alone. These witches are all around him, doing good!
“I particularly liked the poetic quality of the text which really helped me in terms of developing the characters and illustrating the book in general. All in all a perfect introduction to the world of picture books!”
JOHANNA BASFORD in her own words describes herself as a creative catch-all; a designer/illustrator/printer on a mission to cover the world with my hand drawn patterns and motifs. I'm not a vector technician, but one of the dwindling number of creatives who still likes to put pen to paper.
I work predominately, although not exclusively, in black and white. My work is underpinned by a love for the ornate, a 'paint not pixels' approach and my free-range upbringing on a rural Scottish Fish Farm.
Much of my work has roots in the flora and fauna that I grew up with. I embrace the challenge of a cross disciplinary approach, creating designs and surface patterns for everything from ceramics, to bedlinen, fashion, beer bottles wallpaper and even skin.
My ever-growing list of happy customers includes the The Crafts Council at the Victoria and Albert Museum, DKNY, The BBC, The Scottish Parliament, Dazed and Confused, Heals, Channel 4, BrewDog, Queensberry Hunt, Hendricks Gin, The Body Shop and Johnson and Johnson.
I like raspberry jam, Alice in Wonderland, sweet peas and Lady Grey tea.
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