Kerry Lemon

Poppy sculptures

2012-01-26T09:39:00.000Z

I wanted to share some images from a recent workshop where we created a field of poppy flower sculptures. They were a terrific group and a real pleasure to work with, I was particularly impressed with the range of insects and butterflies they created to bring their flowers to life, and loved to see their work all lined up together at the end of the session.

EDFAS (a local branch of the national NADFAS organisation) regularly fund me to devise and deliver a range of youth arts projects in the area. This time we returned to work with a group of young carers from Windsor and Maidenhead for a lovely, fun (and very messy!) art workshop.

Last Friday I started my fantastic new drawing class at the British Museum, and came home with the first three spreads of my new A4 sketchbook happily scribbled on. My parents bought me a special rucksack for Christmas which (much like an 80's transformer) can be turned into a comfortable drawing stool - it's perfect but is already 1/2 full of pencil shavings so needs a clear out before tomorrow!

Lots of lovely new things to share once they're published - I'm particularly itching to get my hands on the Feb (Spanish) edition of Elle, so I can show you a lovely commission completed for them just before Christmas - hopefully next week! Have a lovely weekend, eat some cake, do a drawing and I'll be back next time! x

Welsh break

2012-01-18T11:54:00.000Z

I'm back in the studio today after a quick sketchbook break in Wales with friends. We stayed in "Wendy" a beautiful Edwardian railway carriage perched on the edge of the coastal path at Aberporth with wonderful views from all the windows...

Its such an inspiring place, with beautiful wood panelling and fantastic posters and memorabilia...

We quickly converted the beautiful dining carriage into a temporary art studio and had a wonderful time experimenting with plants collected from the coastal path...

Cyanotype printing

bleach painting creating marks using bamboo skewers and plants

direct hammer prints of plants...

Handmade inks created from plants and berries

Creating the inks

It was a really special break, a chance to experiment with lots of new processes and I've come home bursting with ideas.

Credit Suisse

2012-01-11T14:15:00.016Z

Here's some work created for German Design Agency Independent Medien Design. They liked the uncoloured roughs I drew for The Times last year...

... and they wanted to create a similar thing for their client Credit Suisse who have a quarterly magazine called Bonviva. In the end the client decided to go with photographs instead of illustrations, but I wanted to show the work here as I really loved the brief and I was chuffed with the drawing.

I'm teaching on Saturday in Maidenhead, and then off to Wales for a quick break Sun-Tues with my sketchbook. I'm REALLY enjoying my sketchbook at the moment, I'm trying to figure out Issu at the moment which will allow me to add it to my website as a digital book so hopefully I'll have this sorted soon.

Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you soon x

Wedding Illustrations

2012-01-05T13:45:00.000Z

Here's a new rose illustration which was created to decorate Hannah and Mark's table plan. It was designed to complement their Wedding stationery which I created for them earlier in the year (more info about that here).

I'm still plotting and planning for 2012 and beyond, so there's a lot of day dreaming going on here! I'll commit a new plan to paper towards the end of the month but I'm really enjoying the process, and pushing myself to be very ambitious.... watch this space!...

In other news...

- I'm working on some lovely new drawings for Pet Plan and Credit Suisse at the moment.

- I've taken down the Christmas tree and replaced it with daffodils

- I'm rather pleased with how my sketchbook is looking at the moment, I've been drawing with pencil (rather than my usual pens) and I'm enjoying the speed and the new ranges of marks this create - I'll share soon.

- I start my new weekly drawing class at the British Museum soon, I'm so excited. It will be quite a stretch for me as it is a 10 week class each Friday 10-5pm. I can already sense a lot of weekend work to make up for bunking off each Friday but I can't wait HURRAH!

Have a lovely week x

2011 Highlights

2011-12-29T14:10:00.068Z

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas (I know I did), and now, with only a few days left of a very busy 2011 I wanted to look back over the year. I have limited myself to choosing just one (or occasionally two) of my very favourite projects from the past twelve months....

JANUARY

I finished two commissions for Delicious Magazine and had the opportunity to create the cover and internal chapter illustrations for The Field Book of Country Queries.

FEBRUARY

I turned 30 in February and enjoyed hand-painting the windows of the Swarovski flagship store on Oxford Street for London Fashion week. I also created a range of illustrations for The National Trust Magazine.

MARCH

I was commissioned by EDFAS (a local branch of the national arts organisation NADFAS), to design and deliver an education project and exhibition for their 10 year anniversary. I worked with six groups across the area to create twelve large 6ft birthday cake banners for exhibition on Ascot high street.

APRIL

I drew directly onto the walls of designer Tsumori Chisato's pop-up shop at the Shop at Bluebird on Kings Road in London. This was the first time I had used pen rather than paintbrush to create a mural, and I really loved the quality of line.

MAY

I had a busy month preparing for the Liberty London Commission, but managed to squeeze in a range of floral illustrations for US publication Real Simple.

JUNE

I created a hand drawn and painted permanent mural, for the newly designed beauty hall on the ground floor of the Liberty London Department Store on Regent Street. I also created a range of drawings which were turned into vinyls to decorate the ground floor windows. I was VERY nervous about such a public and permanent commission for such a large client but I am so pleased with this piece - do go and visit it if you're in London x

JULY

I was commissioned by the House of Illustration to create a day of workshops for children to create decorations for the Pop-up Festival of Stories at Coram's Fields. We spent the day making lots of giant and brightly coloured butterflies and were all covered in glitter!

AUGUST

Lovely indulgent job for Elle Decoration creating highly detailed black and white drawings for an article about the details of interior design.

SEPTEMBER

I created a new hand painted window for the Orange Pekoe cafe in Barnes London, their tea and cakes are amazing!

OCTOBER

Lovely new commission for Glamour Magazine, a chance to work on hand drawn text.

NOVEMBER

Dreamy job for The Times illustrating poetry, this was a real pleasure.

DECEMBER

Two lovely festive jobs to finish the year, my first magazine cover for The London Magazine with three internal drawings, and Savill Garden family snowman workshops.

2011 has been a really great year for me. I've felt inspired, fulfilled and challenged by the range and scale of work I have been offered. I have ambitious hopes and plans for 2012 and my studio is consequently wallpapered in lists of dream clients, projects and new marketing ideas.

I am excited about 2012, and I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year... I'll see you next year... x

Giant Snowman Sculptures!

2011-12-19T11:19:00.019Z

Each Christmas I am commissioned by the Savill Garden to devise and deliver a couple of family workshops. It's a really lovely 2hr session where a £20 ticket pays for one adult and up to two children to work together to create a large scale festive sculpture. I love teaching these sessions as the kids are so excited, and they love the opportunity to spend time with a parent/ grandparent working together to make a giant sculpture. So far we've made Christmas trees, Father Christmas's, reindeer hobby-horses and this year it was snowmen.

The snowmen ended up about 4ft high, and they looked great as a group with the noses and eyes giving them each a rather different expression and personality. Participants left their sculptures to dry overnight, before returning the next day to collect them and take them home (presumably in a JCB/ lorry as they were enormous!)

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas, next time I write it will already be over! x

Glamour Magazine

2011-12-15T10:44:00.009Z

Here's a new commission for UK Glamour Magazine, it's in the Jan edition which is in the shops now. It was great to do something completely different, fun to work on my hand drawn typography and it's definitely something I'd love to do more of! At the moment I'm juggling a couple of last minute commissions before Christmas, and on Saturday I'm teaching a family workshop at Savill Garden. I've been running Christmas workshops for them for the past few years and they never fail to get me in a ridiculously festive mood, we're making giant snowman sculptures and I'll show you the results next week.

Now, go and eat a mince pie and I'll write again soon x

The London Magazine

2011-12-07T09:56:00.012Z

Here's the cover and internal illustrations for the festive issue of The London Magazine. I really loved working in such a restricted palette and I'm so pleased with how they've turned out. It's my first cover and I've been getting a real thrill seeing it in newsagents around London.

The editorial was about Christmas entertainment, and featured plays, magic and shadow puppetry. It took a while to get my head around the best way to communicate these subjects, and a bit longer to think about how to incorporate them into a festive cover!

I loved the image so much that I developed it for use as my 2011 Christmas card which I sent out to my clients this week...

It's such a lovely day today I'm going to bunk off for a bike ride, but then I'll be back in the studio later this afternoon finishing the colour on the Elle Spain job.

Have a lovely weekend, I'm going to get the decorations up - how about you? x

The Big Draw 2011 PART TWO

2011-11-26T17:21:00.014Z

I had a lovely morning last Saturday at The New Ashgate Gallery running a drop-in Big Draw session to create a giant concertina storybook. It followed an earlier workshop at More House School in Frensham (find out more here) and I really enjoyed working with such talented and inventive young artists. The work created in both sessions is now being exhibited at the gallery until Christmas Eve, so come and see for yourself!

My Christmas workshops at Savill Garden have now sold out, so in a few weeks I'll be working with family groups to make giant snowmen sculptures - obviously I'll share the pictures with you here once they're done. I really enjoy these annual workshops, the kids are always so excited about Christmas and it's a really lovely atmosphere.

This week I've been creating six large drawings for Elle Spain, it's for a lovely article about perfumes combining my drawings with photography and I'm really excited to see how they turn out. I need to crack on and get them finished, as later this afternoon I'm going to see the Leonardo da Vinci exhibition HOORAH!

Have a lovely weekend, and next week I'll be able to share the cover and internal illustrations for the London Magazine (can't wait!) x

Heineken

2011-11-24T14:23:00.017Z

This is from a recent job for Heineken all about the growing trend of serving coffee in pubs and bars, FYI in 1600 the Pope baptised coffee - hence the Pope's hat on a spoon! I particularly enjoyed drawing the coffee plant, I like the way the beans cluster around the stem.

Last week I visited Cambridge with two lovely friends, I've spent lots of time in the city as I spent my QEST scholarship studying illustration part time there. Each Wednesday I travelled from my home in Surrey to Cambridge but I didn't get a chance to see more than the uni and the train station (and the streets in between!). It was such a treat to visit as a tourist, my highlight was DEFINITELY the permanent collection in the house at Kettle's Yard - so inspiring! It was the home of a former curator at the Tate (1958-73) and the couple collected and curated a wonderful and deeply personal collection in their home.

On Saturday I'm teaching at The New Ashgate Gallery for the second session of my Big Draw commission for them (find out about the first session here). I've really enjoyed this project and I'm so excited to see the student's fantastic work exhibited. x

The Times

2011-11-19T09:54:00.025Z

Here's the drawings for The Times published in todays (Sat 19th Nov) edition, they feature in an 8 page article in the weekend section featuring 30 classic poems to promote a new poetry app called "iF Poems".

It was a dreamy brief, to select and illustrate 4 classic poems (from the choice of 30 options) and such a treat to draw animals - I'm so delighted with how they've turned out. I've also included the first draft black and white drawings as I like how they look against the coloured page.

Have a wonderful weekend, I'm off to watch Strictly and to do some colouring in with my new felt tipped pens - see you next week x

The Big Draw 2011

2011-11-08T19:15:00.021Z

On Monday I was commissioned by the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham to devise and deliver a Big Draw event at More House School in Frensham. I had a lovely afternoon creating a giant storybook with their highly imaginative and creative students, and was really inspired by the drawings they created.

Each pupil received a different postcard from the National Gallery, they chose where on the page to glue down this card and then extended and developed the narrative picture postcard to fill the empty page. They coloured their drawings and then used used bamboo skewers and indian ink to complete their drawing. An extra sheet of paper was then placed between each student, and they then had to work together on these drawings to link the narratives and create a long (and mostly wordless) picture book.

I am DELIGHTED with the finished 40 page book, it will be on display at The New Ashgate Gallery later this month so if you live nearby do go and visit their wonderful work!

WINNER!!

2011-11-04T09:04:00.008Z

Thanks so much for all your super entries for the print giveaway, I've really enjoyed reading them. To win the print above I asked you to name the rhino and there were lots of FANTASTIC names suggested including...

Wiggins, Izzy, Dotty, Henrietta, Archie, Reg, Reggie, Percy, Rosie, Diamond-Hide, Jewely, Edith, Jallibelle, Rhodri, Isis, Marge, Hornicus, Rita, Reginald, Rani, Sugar, Harold, Pete, Jenny, Ronald, The Pearly Queen and Razzledazzle Roni

BUT THE WINNER IS...

"Prince Albert" suggested by Daniel Hall

Let me know your address and I'll post it off to its new home asap x

I've spent this week working on a really lovely hand drawn typography brief for the Jan edition of Glamour Magazine and five botanical illustrations for Strutt & Parker. I've also treated myself to a new drawing class with The Prince's Drawing School starting in January. I'm going to fill a giant sketchbook with drawings from The British Museum I CAN'T WAIT! Speaking of The British Museum I visited Grayson Perry's show last Saturday and it was stunning - I really, really recommend it.

Have a fantastic weekend and I'll see you on the other side x

Giveaway competition

2011-10-28T12:42:00.012+01:00

What a fantastic week, my clever sister Allie and her husband James have made me a beautiful new niece to play with, her name is Isabelle Rose and she is gorgeous! To celebrate I'm having a giveaway - you can win the small Rhino giclee print pictured above and I will post it free of charge to anywhere in the world.

How to enter:
Please leave me a comment below suggesting a name for the rhino, (I'm rather fond of him/her and would like it to have a name rather than just be called Rhino!) I will then choose my favourite name next Thursday 3rd Nov at 11pm GMT contact the winner for their address and get the print sent off to it's new home.

Print details:
योu will win the Rhino artwork pictured above, it is one of a kind and not available for sale in my shop as it was created as a colour proof. It is a professional giclee print with archival pigment inks on 310gsm Hahnemuhle German Etching Paper, hand signed and labelled A/P (Artists Proof) the image size is 24 x 16 cm and it is printed onto a larger sheet 30 x 23 cm.

In other news... I've finished the cover and internal illustrations for the London Magazine, so now I'm working on new projects, flowers for Strutt & Parker and typography for Glamour Magazine.

Good luck with the giveaway and I'll announce the winner next Friday ... x

Collage

2011-10-20T09:36:00.011+01:00

So much lovely work recently for Heineken, Orange Pekoe and Sony Japan but I can't show you any of that yet as it hasn't been published. This week I've been continuing work on a cover and three internal illustrations for the London Magazine, it's such a great commission, lovely subjects and a restricted palette but I can't show you that either (what a tease!)

Instead I thought I'd share a new collage with you created last night. I always make time to develop my own personal work alongside my commissioned pieces as I find they feed each other and allow me to develop and (hopefully!) improve. I've been attending a new class at the Prince's Drawing School at Kensington Palace called "The Constructed Surface" taught by Alice Kettle and Mark Cazalet. Each week we work from a life model using mixed media and a range of collage techniques, it's such a fantastic and inspiring class. Last night we had a field trip, we met at the South Bank Centre and worked outside creating collages inspired by the wonderful view from the balcony over the Thames.

I've had lots of new jobs in this week, so this morning will be spent with a calculator creating quotes for them. Maths requires sweets, so first task is a trip to the shops! Enjoy the rest of your week, and if you have time at the weekend do a little collage - it's time well spent x

Wedding invites

2011-10-11T09:30:00.021+01:00

I was delighted to be asked to create the illustrations for my friends Hannah and Mark's wedding invites. They were designed and printed by Elaine at EB1 Wedding Invites, who was such a pleasure to collaborate with, (I highly recommend!) and we're all delighted with how they've turned out.

I received a really lovely new commission in this week, I'm creating the cover and three internal illustrations for the Dec edition of the London Magazine. It's such a nice festive brief with a restricted palette of red, black and white - lovely! I'm really enjoying this one. I've also been working on some animal drawings for a clients website, and planning for teaching The Big Draw at Moor House School and the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham.

This Friday I'm off to the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) to speak at their Creative Careers Conference. I really like doing this type of thing, as I remember at school that I didn't really think it would be possible to make a living in the Creative Industries. I didn't know anyone who worked in the arts and so really didn't think it could be an option for me - I can't tell you how glad I am that I turned out to be wrong!

Hope you've had a lovely week, and I'll see you soon x

Finland sketchbook

2011-10-04T12:47:00.039+01:00

I had a really inspiring time visiting Finland, it's such a green country so to go in the Autumn and see all the leaves changing colours was wonderful. I went alone so I could really indulge in my sketchbook, and above is a selection of some of the drawings created there.

I stayed in a really nice hotel which I treated like my studio and managed to completely cover in gesso and watercolour splatters each evening, cursing myself and then feverishly cleaning each morning, before forgetting again and covering the desk, floor, tv chair and phone in another wave of splatters! I even painted on the plane (it's a 3hr flight) but was more reserved and stuck reservedly to delicate dabs rather than my usual sploshing.

The highlight of my trip was visiting Porvoo, it's the second oldest town in Finland and was full of beautiful wooden buildings painted yellow, pink, blue and red. It's also covered in tiny museums and galleries (heaven) and gorgeous craft shops. Another day I took the ferry to Soumenlinna, which has a beautiful church and cafes serving spiced green tea and pulla (a cardamon and cinnamon bun - my favourite!)

Today I'm off to Savill Gardens to build a 3ft snowman, I'm teaching a family workshop at Christmas so I need to check my idea works (it involves beach balls...) On Wednesday I had the pleasure to meet crafts journalist and photographer Clare Kelly for a coffee, we're speaking at the University for the Creative Arts Creative Careers Conference next Friday and so it was lovely to find out more about her work and plan our talk. I'll let you know how it went next week, until then have a great weekend x

Computer Arts Projects

2011-09-26T16:49:00.009+01:00

I'm featured in the current issue of Computer Arts Projects (issue 154). It's an article about self promotion for illustrators, where they've used extracts from a short interview with me and an image from my 2010 postcard.

I'm really excited as I leave for Helsinki tomorrow, just me and my sketchbook and I can't wait to spend four days drawing! I'm currently trying to decide what art supplies to bring, I always take far too much so I'm trying to be ruthless!

OK, must go pack - I'll be back next week with (hopefully) lots of lovely sketchbook work from Finland. x

Orange Pekoe Autumn

2011-09-22T21:33:00.017+01:00

Wowee, such a busy week - I've been adding hand drawn typography to the Sony Japan album cover (I cannot wait to show you this!!) and I'm working on a lovely new job for Heineken. On Tuesday night I hand painted this window at Orange Pekoe in Barnes, it's a gorgeous cafe, really friendly and popular and they have amazing home made cakes and pastries with a choice of over 100 teas - bliss! I really enjoyed this commission, I love the challenge of working on a large scale and I'm so delighted with how it looks. I've already been asked to return and create their Christmas window at the end of November, so I've started sketching a few ideas.

Next Friday I'm off to Finland for four days, just me and my sketchbook - I'm so excited! I have a huge amount of work to get through before I board that plane, but the idea of spending four days drawing is heaven! I was inspired to visit Finland through the beautiful work of Anna Emilia, her artwork and blog writing conveys a real love of her country which I have found infectious. I sent her an email to ask for advice about places to go and things to do and she was hugely generous with her time giving me a wealth of ideas (thanks Anna - so kind! x)

I'll try and squeeze in a quick blog post next week before I go, for now back to work... (although drawing and colouring in never really feels like work!) x

Elle Decoration

2011-09-13T08:24:00.017+01:00

The October edition of Elle Decoration (featuring my doodles) is in the shops now. It was a really lovely and open brief to illustrate a four page feature where experts advised about the decorating details which really make a difference to a home.

I was given the article and chose three paragraphs to illustrate with advice from Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Ashley Hicks and Gordon Watson. Below are the rough images sent to the art director, the initial concept was to create detailed black and white drawings of interior spaces and highlight the details suggested by the experts using the colour yellow ...

A few tweeks later here's the final artwork...

And here's the artwork layout in the magazine...

I'm really pleased with the finished work, particularly the door knobs on the last page - they were really lovely to draw!

I visited the Museum of Everything #4 at Selfridges yesterday which was really inspiring, particularly the work of Katsuhiro Terao and Louis Estape. I've sent off drawings for a new job for Heineken this morning so I'm off to The Power of Making at the V&A and the Serpentine with friends. I'm also going to try and squeeze in a visit to the Twombly and Poussin exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery at the weekend before it finishes on the 25th. I find visiting exhibitions hugely inspiring and exciting and so I try really hard to make time for this most weeks.

Next week I'm painting a window at Orange Pekoe in Barnes, it's a really gorgeous cafe with amazing Earl Grey tea and I'll be there on Tuesday 20th from 5pm with a big pot of pink paint! I'm really looking forward to it, and I'll share images of the finished piece with you next week x

New letterpress postcard

2011-09-08T10:03:00.007+01:00

Here's my new postcard for 2011 (finally!) I've had such a manic year that I've only just got round to it - but better late than never eh! I decided to splash out on letterpress cards, and hopefully the images above give an indication of the lovely deep emboss. I used Blush Letterpress Printers, and they were fantastic, really generous with their time and advice.

I based the design on my recent mural commission for Liberty London. Here I placed the peacock on top of a striped hoop and gave him a rather fetching Native American headdress. It was a very indulgent drawing that took three days to complete - just the kind of geeky detail I love...

So over the next few weeks there will be a lot of movie watching whilst envelope stuffing to get these new cards out to new and existing clients - thank goodness for self seal envelopes!

Dublin and Galway

2011-09-05T17:22:00.012+01:00

I'M BACK!

It was a lovely break, three days in Dublin with Steve, and then seven more in Galway with friends. I really enjoyed drawing in my sketchbook; black and white gesso, splashy watercolours and pencil and pen marks. It wasn't too wet but felt quite chilly at times, so I got comfy drawing in cafes and pubs drinking red lemonade and virgin irish coffees. I had cake for lunch every day (often cake instead of lunch) so I have returned chubby and happy ready for Autumn!

I've booked a short holiday in Finland at the end of the month, just me and my sketchbook. I'll be staying in Helsinki but I'm keen to do some day trips - if anyone had any advice of things to see and places to draw I'd love to hear them!

For now, it's soooo nice to be back in the studio, I've really missed it and there's lots of new and ongoing projects to get on with this week including an exciting meeting with a new client. I must crack on, but I'll return later in the week to show you my new letterpressed postcard x

Wisley Gardens

2011-08-19T12:17:00.018+01:00

SONY JAPAN

Last week I visited RHS Wisley Gardens to study their beautiful roses for a current commission. I'm creating floral album artwork for Sony Japan, and my twitter friends (follow me here) recommended the gardens at Wisley. It was fantastic, and I came away inspired with a ton of really useful reference photos, you can see a few of my favourites above.

ELLE DECORATION

This week I completed a lovely new commission for Elle Decoration, 2 x full page and 1 x 1/4 page illustrations to feature in the Oct issue. I am itching to show you the drawings as I'm so proud of them, but I can't until they're published so as soon as the issue's in the shops I'll share the drawings here x

HOLIDAYS

I'm off to Ireland on holiday for the next two weeks so I won't be posting. We're visiting Dublin and Galway and I'm really really excited! I'm packing sketchbook and paints and so I'll hopefully share some drawings from my travels when I get back.

Have a lovely weekend and I'll write to you again in two weeks x

The Field Book of Country Queries INTERIORS

2011-08-11T10:52:00.017+01:00

Really busy week, I'm working on a lovely new commission for Elle Decoration and drawing roses for album artwork for Sony Japan. I can't show you any of these yet, so here's some of the interior illustrations from the recently published Field Book of Country Queries (more details and cover shots here) where my drawings feature as chapter headings and in between paragraphs.

OK, back to work - have a great weekend x

Japanese Vogue

2011-08-05T11:09:00.024+01:00

Hurrah! chuffed to bits to see my recent Liberty Mural in the September edition of Japanese Vogue, an on their blog here. I have an ongoing fantasy about being commissioned to create a mural in a store in Tokyo, and once my new letterpressed postcards are ready I'm planning to approach a few stores - don't ask don't get eh! If you have any recommendations for suitable stores and boutiques in Tokyo then I'd be very grateful for the advice!

I'm currently working for a Japanese client, creating an album cover for Sony Music Japan, a lovely botanical job with a nice long deadline so I can really take my time. I recently met with the art director in London to discuss the brief and she brought me some beautiful gifts of origami paper and traditional fabric - I wish I received gifts in all my meetings!

Yesterday I visited Pallant House Gallery in Chichester with my lovely friend Ellen, we made the trip to see the Frida Kahlo exhibition and we were not disappointed. It was a great show, and the permanent collection is also definitely worth the trip, we didn't make reservations at the restaurant within the gallery and it was full, but we've eaten there before and I HIGHLY recommend it. The gallery foyer was decorated with tissue paper banners depicting Kahlo's work - they were on sale in the shop and so I now have a 13ft one hanging in the studio. It is completely ridiculous and I love it!

Tomorrow I'm heading to the Barbican to see "Watch me Move" an exhibition of animation, and "Out of Australia" at the British Museum which is prints and drawings from Australia. Have a great weekend whatever you do, and next week I'll share the chapter heading drawings from the recently published Field book x

The Field Book of Country Queries COVER

2011-07-28T14:15:00.024+01:00

Here's the cover artwork for "The Field Book of Country Queries", it was created earlier this year and has just been published by Quiller. It's a collection of letters from readers of The Field magazine with answers from their columnists, and covers a diverse range of household and country topics. It was a lovely open brief and I really enjoyed creating all the quirky drawings to illustrate the letters. I'll be back next week with lots more images from this book, as it is illustrated throughout with drawings for each of the chapter headings. x

New sketchbook

2011-07-23T10:11:00.010+01:00

Okay, finally as promised here's the first three spreads of my new A5 sketchbook, a place for ridiculously girly flower painting, and romantic handwriting. I have fallen in love with black gesso as it allows me to work into each spread again and again until I have a piece I really love. I'll try to remember to post spreads from this new sketchbook if you'd like to see them...?

I've finished the design of my new promotional postcard, it's going to be letterpressed by the lovely people at Blush which will take at least a month, but as soon as it's ready I'll post it here. (Letterpress is a 16th century printing technique which presses the design into the paper creating a crisp and tactile print). I'm so excited about seeing the finished design, each year I create a promotional postcard but I've never had one letterpressed before.

I EVENTUALLY joined the AOI (The Association of Illustrators) this week, I am a complete idiot for not doing this years ago as I have already used their services twice this week to advise on quotes for new jobs. If you are an illustrator I STRONGLY recommend joining, it costs me £10.60 a month which is an absolute bargain - lecture over!

I'm off for a quick run now before getting all dressed up for dinner with Steve at Kettner's tonight. It's a really beautiful London restaurant which was opened in 1867, their typography and styling looks gorgeous so I'm looking forward to this treat. I MUST NOT stuff myself silly however, as we are going on to a party with friends after the meal, and my tight Mad Men esk pencil skirt dress will not allow it. Oh well, if need be I may just have to purchase a bum bag on the way to the party to disguise dinner bump! x

Real Simple

2011-07-14T09:25:00.017+01:00

Here's the new floral illustrations commissioned for the July issue of US magazine Real Simple. It was such a lovely job, I love drawing plants and flowers above anything else and the accompanying photos of beautiful arrangements are glorious.

I'm currently working on my postcard for 2011, I've been so busy this year that this is the first chance I've had! I'm exploring a range of design options at the moment, including developing a peacock image based on the recent installation for Liberty London -pictures to follow soon...

Next week I PROMISE to share some images from my sketchbook, until then have a lovely time - Steve's taking me out for dinner tonight to Bob Bob Ricard in London so I am likely to be quite a bit rounder by my next post! x

Pop up Festival

2011-07-09T11:13:00.011+01:00

I had a great day yesterday working at Coram's Fields in London with Y5 school kids from schools around Kings Cross. I was commissioned by the House of Illustration and the Pop Up Festival of Stories to work with the kids to create decorations to adorn the festival site this weekend. We created a colourful flock of butterflies which will be hung throughout the park - you can find out more about my involvement with this fantastic new festival here. I had such a fun day, and really enjoyed the (rare for me) opportunity to meet other illustrators! x

Royal Ascot

2011-06-30T09:27:00.013+01:00

Here's the new work created for the Royal Ascot Magazine (as viewed by the Queen - HURRAH!) I illustrated these five for an article about the most famous jockeys to grace the 300 year old racecourse at Ascot. I'm really pleased with the muted watercolour and it was fun to work on a portraiture project.

I've started a new sketchbook this week, and I'm focusing on paint and coloured line work rather than just ink drawing. I'll show you some spreads from this next week, as well as the illustrations created for the July issue of Real Simple Magazine all about flower arranging.

It's actually a nice day today and not raining (touches wood) and so I'm off out for a quick run to compensate for all the recent excessive curly wurly consumption. - have fun whatever you're up to and get out in the sun while it lasts x

Liberty Vinyls

2011-06-23T10:58:00.007+01:00

Here's the vinyls I created for the pillars of the new beauty hall at Liberty London. I popped back yesterday to take some photos of them and to get a new haircut at the Aveda concession (it's short, asymmetric and bright red and I LOVE it!)

I'm so pleased with how the vinyls have turned out, they're on three pillars on the ground floor visible from the store front at Great Marlborough Street. Once I'd completed the mural Liberty commissioned a new range of drawings to create vinyls to decorate the blank pillars. I'm chuffed with them, it's not until you get really close that you can tell they're not hand drawn (see close ups) and they work really well with the mural (more about that here). I'll return to take some better pictures once the orange and silver window vinyls have been removed - but you get the idea!

I'll be back next week with work created for Royal Ascot, but for now have a lovely weekend and lets hope for a little sunshine! x

Liberty Mural (...Extension)

2011-06-19T12:42:00.011+01:00

I was really pleased to be invited back to Liberty earlier this week, as they commissioned an extension to the new botanical mural in the Beauty Hall.

I extended the drawing down to meet the till point and around the corner to the window. I completed the extension over two days last week, Wednesday and Thursday - it was really hard work to get it all done but I'm delighted with the final composition and so chuffed with the finished piece.

The official press launch for the new Liberty Beauty Hall was on Friday morning and so fingers crossed that the mural gets a positive reception! x

National Trust - Summer

2011-06-09T12:05:00.011+01:00

Finally back after an extended, relaxing and food filled break spending time with friends and family in Devon, Bournemouth and Whitstable. I visited Kent with lovely friends Chantal and Jane to have a nose around the new Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, and we stayed in Whitstable at the gorgeous Polly's Attic which I highly recommend.

I'm so pleased to be back in the studio today, it was a wonderful (and much needed!) break after the Liberty commission but I was itching to get back to my drawing! I'm really pleased that the new National Trust Magazine has been published, so I can share these new little spot illustrations with you this week. The NT always gives me such lovely things to draw and I really loved working on the old typewriter and the pile of letter below. x

Painting at Liberty

2011-06-03T09:01:00.006+01:00

Liberty installation from Kerry Lemon on Vimeo.

Here's a short time lapse film which documents the creation of the installation at Liberty. I set up my camera on a tripod and programmed it to automatically take a photo every 30 seconds and I'm so chuffed with the finished result!

You can find out more information about this lovely commission here

I'm back in the studio today after a short, relaxing break in Devon with family, and this weekend I'm off to Bournemouth to stay with a really good friend. Have a great weekend whatever you get up to and I'll be back next week to share a recent commission for the National Trust. x

Liberty Beauty Hall

2011-05-30T11:12:00.027+01:00

Wow, what an amazing, dreamy and fulfilling week! I am now the proud owner of three incredibly sore blisters on my hands after spending the last 10 days at Liberty of London creating a hand drawn and painted mural directly onto the wall of their new beauty hall on the ground floor.

It was a lovely open brief, I was invited to create a botanical mural including a peacock. My initial proposal included three design options; a climbing rose, wisteria or magnolia and Liberty selected my favourite of the three - the magnolia tree. Initially the mural was a much smaller intervention, but they really liked the peacock and wanted to feature it across the door of the Queen Mary treatment room - (this is the room where Queen Mary would view her jewellery in private away from public view.)

The photos above were taken during the process of creating the piece, and since then the shop fitters have been in overnight installing the shelves and till point (as indicated in the sketch below - which also gives a better idea of the full design rather than just the detailed shots above.)

The space has been opened to the public today, and I am going back in later to take some more photos of the full mural. They'll also be a short film to share soon, as 20/20 (the design consultancy commissioned by Liberty to create the new Beauty Hall) invited artist Zbigniew Kotkiewicz to document the process of the mural. He was such a lovely person to spend time with and I can't wait to see the film (obviously the poor bloke now has acres of footage of me scrunching up my face in deeply unattractive shapes, squinting my eyes and sticking my tongue out to wade through first!) I pull the most ridiculous faces when drawing and after a while I completely forgot I was being filmed.

Today I'm feeling tired, sore and chuffed to bits, I'm really looking forward to going to Devon tomorrow to spend time with family, have a nice rest and my mum's cooking. I was VERY anxious about this commission, the idea of creating a permanent feature in my favourite store was beyond terrifying, but I'm really, really proud of the finished piece, and so very pleased to have it living in Liberty x

Liberty Commision

2011-05-18T16:00:00.004+01:00

I had a really lovely meeting about a new window commission last week but sadly had to turn it down as the dates clashed with Liberty. I need to either clone myself or train up the cats as this month has been really manic!

From this Saturday I'll be spending the week at Liberty, creating a permanent botanical wall drawing for their new Beauty Hall. It will open to the public Monday 30th May and here's a super sneaky peek of one of my colour tests.

I'll be creating a stop-motion animation of the process and I'm really looking forward to sharing that with you, until then... wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side! x

Royal Ascot, Real Simple, Liberty and CAKE!

2011-05-11T12:53:00.017+01:00

I've finished my lovely commission for Royal Ascot Magazine, I've been drawing a range of famous jockeys with splashes of watercolour for their racing silks. The layout has changed and so they're no longer able to use the one above of Frankie Dettori so I thought I'd share him with you here. I'll be able to show the others (created in the same style - portraits of Fred Archer, Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Willie Carson) once the magazine has been published at the start of June.

This week I've been working on an article about flower arranging for Real Simple Magazine, it's an American publication and their offices are based in New York (which due to the time difference, gives me a terrific 5hr extension on all of my deadlines!). I've now submitted the drawings to them and so I'm just waiting for feedback before I can colour them.

I'll start painting the permanent botanical mural in the new Beauty hall at Liberty a week on Saturday - yikes! I've bought all the materials I'll need, and Steve's been great helping me to work out how to make a stop-motion video of the process of creating the artwork directly onto the wall. I'm so excited about the project and once the new space is open to the public I'll be able to share all the artwork with you.

I've got an exciting meeting today about a possible new window painting commission,Friday morning I've got a meeting with the House of Illustration about an education project I'm running in July, and then lunch with lovely Zef at Cocomaya - I've heard lots of great things about how beautifully styled the space is, check this out and crucially how great the chocolate and cakes are - look at these beauties!

I'll ensure for research purposes that I consume a good range and quantity of their goods and then I'll report back! x

Phew!

2011-05-05T20:46:00.012+01:00

Phew getting to the end of a very busy week and onto an even busier weekend!

On Tuesday I was in Cambridge giving a lecture to a lovely group of BA Illustration students from CSVPA. I spoke about my career. focusing on the importance of business and marketing skills and found them to be a thoroughly friendly group.

Wednesday I was in Maidenhead working with 32 students from primary and secondary schools on a project for Housing Solutions. The students worked as illustrators for the day, creating posters about the importance of being eco friendly around the home. I was so pleased with the quality of their work, twelve of their images will be selected by the housing association residents to feature in their 2012 calender - I'm just so glad I don't have to judge as there are so many fantastic pieces! The photos above are from the day and taken by Tom one of the talented students I had the pleasure to meet.

Today I've been working on the jockey drawings for Royal Ascot, and the final artwork for the Liberty mural at the end of the month. I've also got a really lovely new commission for Real Simple Magazine to squeeze in, it's an American publication and I'm working on an article all about flower arranging - my absolute favourite thing to draw!

So, no weekend off for me but drawing, eating sweets and drinking cups of tea isn't exactly work eh! x

Bluebird Installation

2011-04-28T21:01:00.024+01:00

Here's some photos of the wall paintings I created last week at The Shop at Bluebird on Kings Road in London (more images here). I went back to see the space now all the props and clothing have been styled and installed and it looks really great. I spent last Friday drawing designs from Tsumori Chisato's new fashion collection directly onto the walls with a marker pen. It will be in place for the next six weeks, so do go and visit if you're in the area. I've also updated the installation section of my website - have a look and let me know what you think...

For all those in the UK have a fantastic long Bank Holiday weekend. I'm taking the morning off tomorrow to watch the Royal wedding with Steve and tea and scones, I'll have to crack on in the afternoon tho as I'm working on a commission for the Royal Ascot Magazine. Sat I'm off for a long walk with friends and Sunday going to a fancy dress party as Kate Middleton - HURRAH! x

Tsumori Chisato installation at Bluebird

2011-04-23T17:47:00.060+01:00

I had such a fun day yesterday at The Shop at Bluebird drawing designs from Tsumori Chisato's new fashion collection directly onto the walls. I really enjoyed using paint pens on this project, and I'm especially pleased with the irregular line. It will be in place for six weeks, so do go and visit it on Kings Road if you're able (I'm really excited about seeing the space finished with all the clothes installed - and I'll share images of this asap) Big thanks to Paul, Jane and their team for making me feel so welcome in store, especially for the much needed coffee and croissant first thing!

I'm currently developing the botanical design for Liberty at the end of May, I'll be hand painting it onto the walls of their new beauty hall. I'm obviously BEYOND excited about this, and Steve's helping me to look into creating a stop motion film to document the process.

Next week is going to be really busy, Liberty, Cornerstone, editorial job about jockeys and planning for a lovely new commission from the House of Illustration - so no Easter off for me, but after a lovely week off in the States recently visiting Vegas with my girlfriends I can't complain!

Have a fantastic Easter and enjoy the annual attempt to consume your own weight in chocolate x

New designs...

2011-04-15T11:19:00.012+01:00

Hand painting the Bluebird Mural for Tsumori Chisato has been postponed to next Friday, (I'll be in store 9am-10pm if you want to come and wave) so for this week I thought I'd share some recent new designs. I was commissioned to create some rough sketches for a lovely greeting card company, unfortunately we were unable to agree on the fee this time, but I really liked the rough sketches and so I have developed a few here into finished designs.

Lots of lovely projects on the go at the moment, I've got a great teen workshop coming up in Maidenhead, and a lecture for Illustration BA students in Cambridge to prepare for, I'm also really enjoying working on the design of the Liberty painting for the wall of their new Beauty Hall (I'll be painting this in store at the end of May).

Have a fun weekend whatever you do, and next week I'll be sharing the painting at the Shop at Bluebird - promise x

Let them eat CAKE!

2011-03-30T15:01:00.008+01:00

Wow, the sunshine makes such a difference doesn't it! I'm about to go out and enjoy this lovely weather, but I just wanted to share these pictures of the 6ft cake banner exhibition on Ascot high street (installed this morning and up until the 21st). I'm really chuffed - they look great and are the result of a recent education project which you can find out more about here and here.

I'm off to the States for a quick break in the morning (sketchbook is packed!) so this week has been busy preparing for the hand painted mural at The Shop at Bluebird next Friday. I can also share some exciting news..... I've been commissioned by Liberty to design and hand paint a permanent botanical mural directly onto the walls of their new beauty hall at the end of May. It's a dream commission and I've been creating initial designs and painted samples, obviously I can't share anything visual with you yet, but I've been bursting to tell you the news.

Have a great weekend, I hope that this lovely weather holds and next time I blog it will be with images of the Bluebird Mural on Kings Road. x

The Shop at Bluebird - New Mural

2011-03-30T15:00:00.012+01:00

I've been commissioned by Tsumori Chitsato to hand paint designs from her new fashion collection directly onto the walls of the new pop up store in The Shop at Bluebird on Kings Road London.

It's a really beautiful store carrying niche designers which are all exhibited in museum-like cases and on innovative pieces of furniture. It's part of the historic Bluebird Garage—built in 1924 for the Bluebird Motor Company and in 1997 converted by Sir Terence Conran to include a restaurant, bar, cafe and concept store. If you haven't been I recommend it, it's a really inspiring space full of amazing clothes, stationary, accessories and beauty products (inc a spa!) for men and women.

I'll be there all day (and some of the night!) on Friday 15th April painting the walls ready for the launch on the 16th, I've been working hard planning it today and I will of course share photos of it once completed... x

Drawing me a Bird

2011-03-23T16:20:00.016Z

I've just finished creating the new publicity for Peut-être Theatre, here's the A3 poster and A5 double sided flyer. It's ready for the national tour of the new dance theatre show 'Draw me a Bird' coming to a venue near you soon! I'm really pleased with how it's turned out, particularly the texture and the colour as it's a very different palette from what I would normally choose and it's so easy to get stuck in a colour rut. The birds were hard to do as they wanted me to draw them like a child would, I found it really difficult to tap into a more naive way of drawing but in the end achieved it by drawing with my wrong hand really, really fast!

I'm trying to get more organised in the studio, I've ordered another filing cabinet to sort out all the packaging for my shop and once all the cake banners are out of the way then there'll be lots more room so I'm going to have a good sort out on Sunday. On Saturday I'm off to the Rococo Chocolate School with Steve to learn to make chocolate truffles, it was a Christmas present from his mum and we're so excited!

Have a lovely weekend whatever you do, lets hope this lovely sunshine continues x

►

More cake...

2011-03-16T14:32:00.016Z

Here's a recent commission for Hiscox Insurance via Wardour, it illustrates an article about the new trend for insuring weddings and private parties and was such a lovely thing to draw. It inspired the long birthday cake banners that I have been working on with local young people to celebrate EDFAS's 10th birthday - more details here.

Last Saturday I ran a workshop with local young carers in Maidenhead to create the beautiful pink cake banners below. This group are members of the Young Carers Project which is aimed at young people aged between 8 - 19 in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. These young people perform caring duties for someone in their family, perhaps a disabled parent, a brother or sister who has a learning disablity or elderly grandparents. They were such a nice team to work with, incredibly hard and very neat workers and did a really lovely job!

EDFAS 10th Birthday education project

2011-03-11T13:10:00.016Z

This week has seen the start of a new education commission funded by EDFAS (a local branch of the national arts organisation NADFAS). I have designed a project working with six groups across the area to create large banners for exhibition on Ascot high street next month.

The banners depict delicious big birthday cakes as they have been designed to celebrate EDFAS's 10th birthday. The red banners above were created on Monday by yr 1&2 (aged 5 and 6) students in an after school art club, and the yellow banners were created earlier this evening by a local youth club. Tomorrow I'll be making pink banners with a group of young carers drawn from Windsor and Maidenhead and I'm really looking forward to it.

They are created using tissue paper on plastic sheeting and look beautiful hung in front of a window to allow the light to shine through. They are inspired by Warhol's beautiful cake illustrations (see glorious example below), and the six banners will be created and hung in rainbow order: red, yellow, pink, green, orange and blue.

I'm so excited about seeing them hung together, but until then I'll be working with groups to create them, storing them in the studio and crucially trying to stop the cats from wrecking them! Have a lovely weekend whatever you get up to, on Sunday I'm going to Hampton Court Palace for a days drawing with my lovely friend Charlotte - I'll share some sketches with you next week x

Easter Eggs

2011-03-04T10:19:00.009Z

Here's the last of the food series for Delicious Magazine, it's the April edition and is available in the shops now. This month was Easter Eggs (yum yum yum) and as always I had a really great time drawing all the packaging for this brief - particularly the typography.

Tomorrow I'm off to Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead teaching a new drawing workshop "Drawing with Confidence". I'm really looking forward to it and I've just got back from the florist with armfuls of flowers ready for the class tomorrow. Sunday I'm off to Pallant House Gallery to catch Contemporary Eye: Crossovers which is a series of interventions by craft artists within the 18th century gallery including Grayson Perry and Polly Morgan - HURRAH!

Have a wonderful weekend too x

Swarovski Window

2011-02-25T17:01:00.007Z

Here's the official images from the Swarovski window last week, they're taken by the very talented Steven Peskett. I went up to visit the window yesterday, and I felt really proud and a bit giggly, before going on to visit the new Watercolour exhibition at Tate Britain and then Madam Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall - both of which were stunning!

The window's also been featured in a bit of press here, here, and here

I've updated my website so it features more of my mural work as it's become one of my favourite things to do, you can view it here

Have a lovely weekend, I'm off to a city farm in London tomorrow with friends x

London Fashion Week - Swarovski Window

2011-02-21T13:00:00.010Z

Back in the studio today after a fantastic week in London hand painting the Swarovski flagship store window on 321 Oxford Street in London. Here are some of my snaps showing the progress of the piece, the one of me 'in action' is taken by lovely freelance photographer Steven Peskett who spent time with me at the store on Wednesday and Friday documenting the process, and I'm looking forward to showing you his proper photos in a few weeks time. He works for a wide range of clients (including Swarovski!) and if you ever need a freelance photographer I highly recommend him. I'm terrible at having my photo taken, but he's really friendly, chatty, professional (and even turned up with a much desired cup of tea for me!) you can view his portfolio here

Hand painted murals have become one of my favourite commissions, and the Swarovski head office and instore staff were endlessly supportive and helpful which made the process a real joy. I loved the interaction with people, Oxford Street is SO manically busy and it is such a honour to have my work viewed by so many people from all over the world. Hundreds of people stopped to watch me work, take photos and videos of the process and demonstrated their support with encouraging words, clapping and thumbs up. Thanks so much to everyone who visited both known and unknown to me, it was lovely to see you x

Swarovski planning

2011-02-10T16:02:00.009Z

Phew, what a busy week! I finished a lovely job for Hiscox Insurance (via Wardour) drawing an elaborate wedding cake with bride and groom on top. I'll show you once it's published, but I really indulged myself with a highly detailed drawing and coloured each tier of the cake a different pastel shade - dreamy! I've also been working hard planning for next weeks live painting commission, and as promised, there's some of my rough sketches to give you a flavour.

I've been commissioned by Swarovski to hand paint the windows of their new flagship store on Oxford Street in London next week. The days and times have changed slightly so if you can make it (and it would be lovely to see you) then I'll be there 10am-8pm each day Tues 15th, -Fri 18th Feb. It's 321 Oxford St, the nearest tube is Bond St and it's opposite House of Fraser near John Lewis. I'll be painting work from their new collection, really gorgeous green, red and turquoise coloured stones and I've been trying out all the different colours on the windows in my flat - the neighbours must think I'm bonkers!

It's such a fantastic commission, and I've just about finished all the planning now and ready to get started. I know that I'll really enjoy the process, as I loved painting the window murals for the Electrum Gallery and the Cornerstone Arts Centre (which you can find out about here) but the worst bit is the scary first mark!

Last Saturday I had the most AMAZING surprise! my parents and big sister secretly travelled up from Devon, met up with my little sis and Al, and crept up on me at the V&A where Steve had arranged to meet with them. It was to celebrate my 30th and I was so, so touched and shocked! We visited The Shadow Catchers Exhibition which explores the work of artists creating photographs without cameras. It's such an inspiring show and ends soon so do visit if you can! They then whisked me off to a very glamorous hotel (thank god Steve convinced me to dress up and curl my hair!) for afternoon tea.

This Saturday I'm teaching at the Farnham Maltings, "Drawing for the Terrified", I'm really looking forward to it and will be buying lots of lovely flowers tomorrow ready for us to draw (you can find out more here). Sunday I'm meeting up with my gorgeous friend Carrie for afternoon tea (I am going to be as fat as a mole if I carry on like this!) to have a nice gossip and rest before the busy week ahead.

I'll look forward to sharing some pictures of the Swarovski mural with you soon, until then have a great week x

Delicious custard and exciting news...

2011-02-04T18:18:00.008Z

Hiya, here's the new illustrations for delicious magazine, this month was all about Bird's Custard and it's in the shops now. I LOVE custard and always make banana custard for pudding when there's a sorry looking spotty banana in the kitchen. This week I've been working on illustrations for the Summer edition of the National Trust Magazine, and Monday I'm starting a lovely new job for Wardour drawing a posh wedding cake complete with bride and groom on top - such a nice brief I'm really looking forward to that one.

Next Saturday (12th Feb) I'm teaching a workshop at the Farnham Maltings from 10-4pm (in beautiful Farnham, Surrey). It's called "Drawing for the Terrified" and will be a fun and friendly day suitable for beginners, or those looking to improve their drawing skills. It's £35 for the day, and you can book by visiting here or you can see more of my teaching dates across the area here.

OK... drum roll.... VERY EXCITING NEWS! I'm going to be hand painting the windows of the new flagship Swarovski Store on Oxford Street in London on the 14th-18th February to celebrate London Fashion Week. I'll be there 10-6pm each day and would love a visit, it's number 321 Oxford Street opposite House of Fraser and the nearest tube is Bond Street. I'm going to be painting a few of their key pieces this season - beautiful turquoise and red crystals with ribbons, butterflies and gems and hand painted typography. HURRAH!

Hopefully next week I'll share a few of my sketches for this exciting new project but for now I have a date in front of the TV with butterscotch chocolate and a pot of tea x

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair x

2011-01-27T16:14:00.005Z

The book is all finished HURRAH! and I'm really pleased with it, still can't show you anything until it's published in July but really looking forward to sharing it as soon as I can.

Last weekend's trip with Zef was amazing, really inspiring, we went to the Columbia Rd Flower Market where I bought a giant bunch of 4ft pussy willow before browsing the galleries and shops and going on to the BFI to watch "Two for the Road with Audrey Hepburn". I would not recommend attending the cinema with 4ft stems, but I absolutely couldn't resist and the lovely staff helped me to find a good hiding place for them during the ace film.

I've been working on a range of studies of the pussy willow, they are SO SO beautiful and are pride of place in the kitchen. I was convinced the our naughty cats would eat all the fluffy balls leaving me with bare branches but so far so good (crosses fingers and touches wood.)

Yesterday I spent the day drawing Easter Eggs for Delicious Magazine and I now have the most terrible craving EVER for posh chocolate. So far I have not succombed but I'm sure that the longer I leave it the more I will eventually have to eat. We're going to Rococo chocolates (they have the most amazing packaging) for a Truffle Making Masterclass in March so I am saving for a shopping spree whilst I'm there!

My sketchbook is still filling up with beautiful ladies as above, as I'm currently working on a new range of fashion/ beauty inspired illustrations. To this end Steve and I are visiting "Drawing Fashion" at The Design Museum on Sunday before the matinee of The Lion King and then dinner at Imli WOWEEE dreamy Sunday eh! but I have so much work that needs doing between now and then... see you on the other side...xx

January Projects...

2011-01-21T08:39:00.021Z

I've got lots of different art, illustration and education projects on the go at the moment, and I'm really excited about the prospect of new window painting commissions in 2011 (all top secret at the moment!) I'm still working on the book, the cover has been coloured and I've submitted the first draft of each of the chapter headings, it's such a lovely commission and really coming together now.

I'm also working on a publicity image for Peut-etre Theatr e's new show "Draw me a Bird" above is one of the ideas I was initially working on but we've now gone in another direction. I'm creating the image, and then designing the posters and flyers and competition that will be used for the tour. I created all the publicity for their show last year, and it's always so nice to have repeat clients to work for again.

Below is a range of new sketchbook drawings...

I'm still keeping up with my New Year resolutions, trying my best not to work on commissioned pieces in the evening and weekends. It's been great, I feel like I work much harder during the day and I'm really enjoying having more time for friends, gallery and museum visits and my personal work in scrapbooks and sketchbooks. This weekend I'll be spending Saturday sketchbook drawing and then going to see Black Swan at the cinema. On Sunday I'm meeting up with my lovely friend Zerin, we're going to Columbia Rd for a browse around the flower market, shops and especially Ryantown (Rob Ryan's dreamy shop) before going to the BFI to see an Audrey Hepburn film - BLISS! x

St Paul's Cathedral

2011-01-12T20:54:00.004Z

Here's a recent private commission for a drawing of St Paul's Cathedral, the original was left black and white but I couldn't resist adding a little colour here. I really enjoyed creating the patterns in the building and I've added it to my architecture gallery here

I'm in the currently in the middle of a giant commission, illustrating the cover and ten chapter headings for a non fiction adult book. I'm so pleased with the drawings, lots of shelves jam packed with objects and hand rendered lettering. I'll be colouring them next week but obviously can't show you these until they're published (what a tease!) I've also drawn an old typewriter for The National Trust Magazine so I'm looking forward to sharing that soon.

Enjoy the rest of your week, I'm turning the computer off now to do some sketchbook work HURRAH! x

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T14:34:00.009Z

Hello all, I hope that you had a really fantastic Christmas Break and enjoyed New Year celebrations.

I actually took some time off (WOWEEE!) it really did me the world of good and I am determined to stop myself from slipping back into working all the time like a geeky workaholic. Thus my goal for 2011 is to have evenings and weekends off for visiting galleries and museums, catching up with friends, working on my sketchbooks/ scrapbooks and creating personal work. I find it really hard to take time off, partly because I love what I do so much it really doesn't feel like work at all, but I know I need to get more balance in 2011. In other news I have pretty much stopped biting my nails (HOORAY!) I feel like a proper grown up lady now as friends have got me into the habit of painting them. They are currently a rather ridiculous vivid red and I LOVE them! so hopefully I can keep this up.

There are so many exciting projects in the pipeline but I am not allowed to tell you about any of them (Boo Hiss) so instead I can show you the Feb issue of Delicious Magazine featuring my illustrations all about worcester sauce. I was particularly pleased with the colour as I worked really hard to stop the entire page being a browny sludge tone!

Tomorrow I am off to London to visit the Quentin Blake exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery (I'm really into watercolour at the moment), the Museum of Everything #3 and then the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Royal Observatory (yup deeply inspired by Star Gazing Live on the BBC) before a party in Greenwich - HURRAH.

Have a great weekend and make some time for yourself too x

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T10:04:00.002Z

Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for all your support in 2010 x

Cornerstone Workshop

2010-12-18T12:28:00.002Z

Last Thursday I returned to the Cornerstone Arts Centre to work with a lovely group of 14 and 15 year olds studying for their Creative Media Diploma. Part of the window mural commission was to include an education element, and so they worked from a range of my original sketches to create templates to hand paint the windows at the side of the building.

They did a really fantastic job and were such a pleasure to work with. I was particularly impressed with how much they achieved in such a short space of time, and how well they worked together to create really interesting compositions within the window frame!

All the fun of the fair!

2010-12-15T10:59:00.008Z

Here's some quick snaps from the QEST Craft Fair last week in Duke of York Square (off Sloane Sq in front of the Saatchi Gallery London). It was such an AMAZING experience - I sold lots of work, and had the opportunity to get really valuable feedback from buyers!

It's given me so much confidence and was far less scary than feared (aren't things always!) I'm definitely looking into taking part in more art fairs, particularly at opportunities to demonstrate and/or teach as part of the event.

I've also started supplying Farnham Maltings Shop, Savill Building Shop, and Cabbages and Kings wholesale cards, notelet sets, notebooks and masks but if you can't get to these venues, they're all available in my online shop here.

Tomorrow I'm returning to the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot to work with a group of teenagers to hand paint more of their internal glass. I'll make sure I bring my camera so you can see how we get on.

I hope that you are having a good week, and getting the opportunity to wind down ready for Christmas - if not I order you to run a bath and soak until prune like (and just this once I plan to take my own advice straight away!) x

QEST Christmas Fair

2010-12-07T10:41:00.009Z

I will be exhibiting at The Duke of York Square Christmas Gift Fair this Thursday 9th and 10th December 10am-8pm both days. Each stall is housed in a traditional alpine cabin (think German Market) and so I have been working hard creating handmade prints and drawings, masks, notebooks and cards ready to stock my own little shop. There will be lots of artists and crafts people selling original work and should be great opportunity for Christmas shopping.

It has been organised by QEST which stands for the "Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust" and I am a QEST Scholar (hence the logo at the right hand bottom corner of my website). QEST is a fantastic organisation which provides grants to enable artists and crafts people to further their career. I was lucky enough to be fully funded by QEST to study illustration at ARU in Cambridge in 2007 which was a completely life changing opportunity. QEST continues to support it's scholars through promotion of their work online and at events such as this exciting craft fair.

It's at the Duke of York Square, London, SW3 4LY, (in front of the Saatchi Gallery) the nearest tube is Sloane Square and you access the fair via the main entrance to the square which is on the Kings Road, opposite Boots.

I've never done an art/ craft fair before and so I'm more than a little nervous about it, so if you can come and say hello it would be really lovely to see you! If you can't make it you can always have a look at my online shop here for your Christmas goodies x

Hand painted window mural... FINISHED!

2010-12-06T19:43:00.016Z

All finished today at 3pm here's the festive windows I was commissioned to design and hand paint at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot. It's such a lovely approach to decorating their (rather magnificent) building for Christmas, and I've really enjoyed seeing and hearing people's reactions to the work.

I've painted 64 m² of glass in ten days - a GIANT challenge in every sense, and a fantastic opportunity to work on an enormous scale. The team at Cornerstone have been such a pleasure to work with so big thanks to all of them. I'm so proud of the work and delighted with the finished piece so please visit if you can before it all gets wiped off in the New Year! x

Delicious Trifle (nom nom nom)

2010-12-03T12:58:00.004Z

Here's the January illustrations for Delicious Magazine available in the shops now! It's such a nice brief each month and the art team there are lovely. I completed the drawings for the Feb issue this week and I'll be able to share those with you early January once it's published.

I'm back in the studio today before tomorrows teaching at the Savill Gallery. I'll be back in Didcot at the Cornerstone Arts Centre for the last day on Monday for a few final tweeks and so next week I'll be able to share the finished window mural with you. I can't wait as I'm really chuffed with it.

Have a super snowy weekend x

Savill Santas

2010-11-26T12:07:00.005Z

Just about to head off to the Cornerstone Arts Centre to work on the window mural, but before I go I wanted to let you know about my Christmassy workshops.

I'll be at the Savill Gallery on Saturdays 4th, 11th and 18th December teaching family workshops to create a 3ft Father Christmas Sculpture (see below for one I made earlier!) The afternoons are all fully booked but an additional session has been put in on Saturday 11th from 10am-12pm. Further details can be found here, do come if you can x

Busy Lemon

2010-11-26T10:52:00.023Z

I'm nearly half way through the Cornerstone window painting commission and loving it. Here's a photo of me on the (rather wobbly!) cherry picker, it's such a fantastic opportunity to work on a giant scale, and a lovely approach to decorating the building for Christmas. I'm so looking forward to showing you the finished thing very soon.

Back in the studio today, a chance to finish off the roughs for February's worcester sauce illustrations for Delicious Magazine. Here's the final veg illustrations for the December edition of Gardens Illustrated. This month is the last of the twelve monthly commissions for Alys Fowler's articles throughout 2010. I have absolutely loved working on this each month - giant thanks to David, Niki and Alys for such fun and inspiring work.

Have a great weekend, I'll be continuing with painting the windows at the Cornerstone Sat and Sun so do come and wave if you can x

Cornerstone Painting

2010-11-17T13:40:00.003Z

Wowzer - look at all that lovely glass!

I've been commissioned to paint the giant windows at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot with a lovely festive design. Expect lots of white baubels and snowflakes with touches of bright yellow and orange to match the colour of the building. As it's such a giant undertaking (and I am such a tiny woman at 4' 10"!) I'll be using a cherry picker to reach the upper windows. I'm really looking forward to working on this as I had such a great time in September painting the window at the Electrum Gallery on South Molton Street in London.

I'll be creating the Christmas window in Didcot on the following 10 dates:

Monday 22nd November

Tuesday 23rd November

Wednesday 24th November

Thursday 25th November

Saturday 27th November

Sunday 28th November

Monday 29th November

Wednesday 1st December

Thursday 2nd December

Monday 6th December

So if you're near Didcot do pop down and give me a wave!

The Christmas show at the beautiful Wey Gallery in Godalming was hung last Monday, and I have some framed screenprints and original drawings in the show. It's a really lovely space and fantastic to have my work shown amongst such fantastic company so if you're able to visit do! It's next door to the most amazing greengrocer so make sure you pop in there to stock up, and to counteract all that healthy eating there's also an old fashioned sweetshop HURRAH!

I've smugly just finished all my Christmas shopping, but if you've still got Christmas presents to get then do pop into my online shop and have a browse around. Steve has banned me from decorating the house until Dec 1st (this is understandable as I would have completed this by October without his influence of restraint!) I am however secretly planning the decorations and I'm currently considering buying a fake Christmas tree for this year, I normally always buy a real one as it smells amazing but far I'm too lazy with the needles (or more accurately with bothering to hoover!) What do you have - a fake tree or a real one?

Enjoy the rest of your week, I'm working like the clappers in order to attempt to take the weekend off as it's mine and Steve's 13 year anniversary (gasp! hip hip hooray! that boy deserves a medal etc etc) x

Feeling Christmassy (already? - yup!)

2010-11-12T10:27:00.013Z

Here's the December edition of Delicious Magazine featuring my mincemeat illustrations on P103 - it's available in the shops now. This is a lovely regular commission each month, illustrating their 'In the know' ingredient page, and I'm really enjoying the opportunity to draw lots of foodie things.

In other news...

I battled the pouring rain to visit Sunbury Antiques Market on Tuesday, and I'm really glad I did - I even managed a little haggling and so came away with some lovely bargins! I bought some old wooden boxes and a large letter rack to display all my prints, cards, notebooks and masks ready for the QEST Christmas Fair. On Thurs 9th and Fri 10th Dec from 10am-8pm each day, I'll have my very own Christmas Chalet (think German Market) at Duke of York Square on Kings Road in London. There will be lots of artists and crafts people selling original work and should be great opportunity for Christmas shopping.

QEST stands for the "Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust" and I am a QEST Scholar (hence the logo at the right hand bottom corner of my website). QEST is a fantastic organisation which provides grants to enable artists and crafts people to further their career. I was lucky enough to be fully funded by QEST to study illustration at ARU in Cambridge in 2007 which was a completely life changing opportunity. QEST continues to support it's scholars through promotion of their work online and at events such as this exciting craft fair. I've never done an art/ craft fair before and so I'm more than a little nervous about it, so if you can come and say hello it would be really lovely to see you!

This week I've been working on the new publicity illustration for the magnificent Peut-etre Theatre, and working hard on my preparation for a REALLY exciting new commission. In September I was commissioned to paint the window at the Electrum Gallery on South Molton Street in London (watch the video of me painting here), I LOVED working on this project and I'm hugely lucky to be commissioned again for another hand painted mural. I'll be hand painting the giant windows at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot with a festive design for Christmas and I can't wait. I'll be starting the painting on Monday 22nd (more details to follow) and so if you live near Didcot come and give me a wave!

After a very busy week I'm looking forward to the reward of spending the weekend with friends, have a lovely weekend whatever you get up to x

Making Toast

2010-11-06T17:08:00.007Z

Here's my cover for 'Making Toast' a true story about a sudden bereavement in a young family commissioned by Duckworth Publishers. I'm really pleased with the composition around the empty chair, the colouring and all the quiet layers of texture.

The new 'Delicious Magazine' is in the shops featuring my mince pie illustrations, and so I'll post about that later in the week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and if you fancy a bit of Christmas shopping then you can head over to my shop for lots of goodies x

Broad bean drawings

2010-10-27T14:19:00.019+01:00

The November issue of Gardens Illustrated is in the shops now featuring my broad bean drawings on pages 33 and 34. I really liked working on the pretty red flowers in the first illustration, and capturing the contrast of the red beans in the green pods in the final one.

Lovely commissions at the moment - today I'm drawing trifle for the Jan edition of Delicious Magazine, and tomorrow I need to crack on with the Brassica drawings for the December edition of Gardens Illustrated. I'll definitely need a constant stream of tea, Radio 4 and sweets to help me to get it all done!

I've been really busy putting LOTS of new things in my shop; original drawings, greeting cards, handmade notebooks - to accompany the new masks and handmade prints. I'd love to know what you think - I've added some product shots below and you can check out the full range by visiting the shop here x

MEOW and TWIT TWOO!

2010-10-19T18:14:00.007+01:00

New masks available from my shop today HURRAH!

Perfect for Halloween or lovely pressie for Christmas, they'll fit kids of all sizes and grown ups too :)

New work in shop...

2010-10-16T15:02:00.013+01:00

I've been working on a new series of original prints for my shop using screen printing (also known as silkscreen or seriography). This process uses a woven mesh stretched over a frame to support an ink blocking stencil. It's the perfect technique for allowing me to create affordable, multiple versions of my original labour intensive, detailed drawings!

Firstly I create my silkscreen (see below) you can see the light passing through the clear areas of the mesh, and it's these areas which will print onto the paper.

I create the silkscreen stencil by photocopying my original drawings onto sheets of clear acetate. I then clean my screen and cover it in a thin, even layer of a light sensitive emulsion. Once this is dry I place my acetate drawing upside down onto the face of the screen and expose it to an intense light to expose the screen. After washing off the emulsion the areas where my line drawing are will now be clear and the other areas will be opaque, this means that the ink will only pass through the clear drawn lines.

Below you can see my screen screwed to my desk at home in the studio using clamp hinges.

I then block off the edges of the screen (and any other areas I don't want to print) with parcel tape. Using the wooden squeegy (propped up at the top of the screen) I pull it down towards me which forces the ink through the open areas of the mesh and creates a print of my original drawing.

My prints are created in editions of 20, and as I print them I carefully put them into my drying rack taking care that they don't touch and can dry carefully.

I use Saunders Waterford High White paper. This is a traditionally made English Watercolour paper made using 100% cotton to archival standards. I use their HP (Hot pressed) paper as it's smooth and allows a clean print from the screen as well as enabling a good watercolour wash. The printing ink I use is waterbased, it has excellent lightfastness and is completely free of any ozone depleting chemical, chemicals toxic to health and heavy metals.

Once dry I use my favourite watercolour paints to add hand coloured details to each piece. It is this element of the process which I enjoy the most, and it takes me a long time to decide on the exact colour to use.

Finally I clarify areas of the print with my fine line pen, drawing in extra details and adding more definition to certain areas until I am completely happy with the finish product. I then sign and number each print by hand before carefully wrapping and storing them individually ready for their new owner.

As each piece is hand printed and watercoloured by me, each one has unique differences. Here's the four new pieces (available in my shop now!) created using this process, I'd love to know what you think of them! I am currently working on lots more exciting things for the shop including greeting cards, sketchbooks and animal masks, and as soon as they're ready I'll let you know x

The obsession returns... PATTERNS!!

2010-10-09T15:30:00.018+01:00

I've updated the patterns section of my website after an inspiring visit to the The Fashion and Textile Museum this week.

Still working hard on the new range of projects (whilst not distracted by commissions, patterns and the new series of Strictly Come Dancing!) and looking forward to stocking the shop very soon...

Have a lovely week x

Delicious Magazine

2010-10-01T13:14:00.015+01:00

The November issue of Delicious Magazine is available from today HOORAY!

Each month I will be creating an illustrated border for "The Recipe Files" page, examining the origin of a different recipe each month. Nov is Parkin, (yummy sticky gingerbread) and I was given free reign (bliss) to draw from the text. I've already completed the Dec border, and I'm itching to show you but obviously can't yet!

Working hard today, as tomorrow my friends and I have booked tandem bikes to cycle around London I AM SO EXCITED!!

Have a lovely weekend whatever you get up to x

Autumn Pumpkins

2010-09-26T14:50:00.018+01:00

It definitely feels like Autumn now, I've been digging out jumpers, thicker socks and have started the yearly negotiations about when to turn the heating on!

Here's the illustrations for the current (Oct) edition of Gardens Illustrated - Pumpkins, Courgettes and Winter Squashes. I drew fifteen different varieties, a mammoth task but exactly the sort of commission I love, their colours and textures are fantastic to draw!

I also created a garden plan for Savill Garden, this was lovely as I visit (and teach!) there often, small world eh! ...

I visited Origin on Friday, it was really inspiring and I'm getting really excited about participating in my first craft fair this Nov. I'm working hard on a range of prints and cards, and I'm really nearly there now (I promise!) and looking forward to showing you what I've been up to x

Live painting video

2010-09-17T14:34:00.004+01:00

Here's a short film of me painting the window mural at the Electrum Gallery (on South Molton Street just off Bond Street in London) last week. The artwork will remain until the 23rd October - so if you're around do pop down and let me know what you think.

Live Window Painting from Kerry Lemon on Vimeo.

It was a fantastic commission and I'd really love to do more, so do get in touch for a chat if your interested in a painted mural for your home or business! x

Painting Electrum

2010-09-05T14:14:00.011+01:00

Here's a photo of me earlier today... I'm hand painting a window mural at the Electrum Gallery (on South Molton Street just off Bond Street in London) this week. I'll be working on site until Wednesday 8th Sept and the artwork will remain until the 23rd October - so if you're around do pop down and have a look!

I'm painting illustrations of Disa Allsopp's beautiful jewellery to publicise her solo show at the gallery this Autumn. I was quite apprehensive about being commissioned to work in such a public arena, but it's really fun and I'd love to do more of it - I'm clearly even more of a show off than I realised!

Onions for Sept

2010-08-25T14:04:00.000+01:00

Here's September's onion drawings for Gardens Illustrated, I'm really pleased with the skin texture and the colours I chose.

This afternoon I'm taking a break from drawing the 15 varieties of squash, pumpkin and courgette for a commission due Friday, and going into London for dinner with a friend. Really excited about catching up, but this POURING rain sucks and is only made appealing by the opportunity to wear my red wellies and use my lovely birdcage umbrella!

WOWEEE

2010-08-22T13:13:00.000+01:00

WOWEEE very busy week!

Here's a drawing created for Stranger&Stranger for their pitch for a new Kaffir Lime Vodka packaging label.

I've started work on a new regular slot in Delicious Magazine. Each month I'll be illustrating their "History of Food" page, the first month is Parkin which is a yummy sticky ginger bread. I'm really delighted to get such a fun regular job, and I CAN'T WAIT to show you the border I've created, but obviously must behave and wait until it's published!

I'm also working on the Oct issue of Garden's Illustrated - Pumpkins, the patterns and textures of their skins are incredible. Must crack on with this tomorrow as there's lots of drawing to be done before the Friday deadline.

Still designing and refining a range of new products as I'm planning to take part in a Craft Fair in London this November. So hand water coloured screen prints, stationary sets, notebooks and cards are all the way - (slowly and inbetween commissions). Once complete I'll be sorting out my online shop with these new products and looking for a range of stockists. Obviously, as soon as I've got a little further with all these grand and time consuming plans I'll post it here!

Finally... I've been commissioned to create a live painting in the window of the Electrum Gallery in London on the 6th, 7th and 8th of September. It's on South Molton St just off Bond St - all very exciting and scary.

OK, just writing down all the things that I'm working on has made my head completely boggle! Off now for a cup of tea and then I'm going to write a giant plan of action... x

Gardens Illustrated - Roots

2010-08-02T13:08:00.000+01:00

Celeriac's are really nobbly veg, terrific to draw and delicious as mash. I discovered this veg as a result of creating my regular illustrations for Alys Fowler's article in Gardens Illustrated - this new issue is currently in the shops.

I'm off out now to celebrate Steve's birthday with friends in London, have a wonderful weekend whatever you're up to x

Artsweek 2010 at Savill Garden

2010-07-27T08:50:00.001+01:00

I really enjoyed returning to teach at the Savill Garden Artsweek 19th-25th July.

I worked with a fantastic group of adults "Illustrating Plants" and as a lovely touch the venue laid on delicious afternoon tea as part of the session! YUM

The family weekend workshops saw giant butterfly sculptures created on the Saturday, and caterpillar puppets on the Sunday - I couldn't resist showing you some of their beautiful work!

Today I am finishing drawing lots of onions for the Sept issue of Gardens Illustrated, (I'm really pleased with them and can't wait to show you!) and Wed, Thurs, Fri I'm going down to Devon to visit my family HURRAH!

Hope that you are having a fun week too x

SaturDADS in the sunshine

2010-07-23T15:49:00.002+01:00

Here's some images from a recent commission from the Englemere Decorative & Fine Arts Society to devise and deliver a creative workshop for the local community.

I created a fun (and very messy!) workshop for SaturDADS, a bi-weekly club for dads and other male carers to spend quality time with their children 0-5yrs held at a local Sure Start Centre.

I drew a series of murals onto lining paper; dinosaurs, boats and fish and then the kids worked with their Dads to paint and print on the drawn murals using a range of objects including toys, shoes and marshmallows. The cars were a big hit - particularly the remote controlled car and Barbie's hair wound up a particularly striking shade of orange after it was used as a paintbrush!

Such a lovely day, big thanks to Patricia at EDFAS and Laura at the Sure Start Centre x

Hosepipe bans

2010-07-18T16:52:00.000+01:00

Quick illustration for Amelia's Magazine for an article about conserving water in this gorgeous hot summer we're having (frantically touches lots of wood!).

Lovely sunny day again today! almond croissant for breakfast in the sunshine, a walk in Windsor Great Park (with obligatory giant Mr Whippy ice cream) and now home, pleasantly tired and ready for tea. I hope that you have a lovely weekend too x

Summer Flowers

2010-07-07T09:36:00.000+01:00

I've been playing with drypoint printing the last few weeks with a (very gratefully) borrowed tabletop press. This design was engraved onto aluminium and then inked a la poupee using cotton buds to push black, brown, blue and yellow ink into the grooves.

I've really enjoyed working on this. It was MUCH harder to get the hang of it than I thought it would be, (things always are aren't they!) how long to soak the paper, how much ink was required, wiping the plate of excess ink without wiping off all the ink, and how much pressure to use, but I'm really pleased with the effect and I think inking this way gives a really romantic effect.

Here's some flowers from my sketchbook, I'm thinking about making them into screenprints but I'm wondering about adding some text and further colour so I'm still playing with them. I'm off for lunch with friends today, and then working on a commission about hosepipe bans this afternoon before Steve comes home for movie night and soup x

July Magazine

2010-06-28T22:57:00.001+01:00

Here's the new illustrations in the July edition of Gardens Illustrated Magazine, BEANS. I loved working on the speckled red ones especially. I was also very chuffed to see how big the detailed garden plan I created featured on the page...

It is absolutely boiling hot at the moment, such a treat for me, but my poor cats are spending all day flopped out on the cold bathroom tiles looking miserable. It doesn't help that we took them to the vets last week and they are now on a diet, hot + hungry = very grumpy cats!

Butterflies and Caterpillars invade the studio...

2010-06-17T22:22:00.000+01:00

I've been doing some prep for teaching at the Savill Gallery next month, and here's an example of the butterfly sculpture and caterpillar puppet that the families will be making (please excuse the messy studio!)

It would be great to see you there!...

Ashdon Hall

2010-06-16T10:53:00.000+01:00

Here's the visitors leaflet recently created for Ashdon Hall in Essex. Owner John Padfield was a real pleasure to work with and I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely job.

Last weekend I visited Bristol and Bath (staying over in the Hilton no less!) I went on my own as there were lots of galleries and open studios that I wanted to visit. It was SO inspiring and really lovely to spend ages looking at really amazing art, drawing and taking notes. I spent FAR too much money on beautiful zines, a book on screenprinting and room service but it was worth every penny (especially the swimming, sauna and jacuzzi in the hotel) and I will gladly have a frugal few weeks to make up for it x

New Postcard (Yipeeeee)

2010-06-10T17:15:00.000+01:00

Here's the front and back of my new promotional postcard ordered today. I'll be doing a mail out soon which means lots of envelope stuffing with movies and sweets - I find pick & mix to be the most helpful snack for this task...

Sweetcorn for June

2010-05-27T17:59:00.000+01:00

Here's the sweetcorn illustrations created for the June edition of Gardens Illustrated magazine. I just finished the roughs today for the bean illustrations in the July issue so I'm looking forward to getting them coloured next week.

This week has been busy, working on a range of fun commissions and projects. On Wednesday I visited The Medicine Garden in Cobham and I'm going to create a range of framed botanical drypoint prints for their shop. The place looks fantastic already and Paul's vision for the future is very inspiring so I'm really glad to be getting involved.

I've been researching printmaking presses and have bought a pasta machine to use as a press in my studio so I'm excitedly waiting for that to be delivered. I'm going in to London on Sat to pick up some other printmaking bits and bobs, and whilst there I'll be visiting the Forth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, The Museum of Garden History and The Geffrye Museum (I've heard lots of good things about the Garden Museum cafe so obviously I will be testing that out!).

Right, I'm off to make spinach and chicken balti for dinner, my cooking is somewhat hit and miss so wish me (and Steve who'll have to eat it too) luck!

RSPCA Annual Report

2010-05-21T12:54:00.000+01:00

I received a copy of the freshly printed RSPCA Annual Report in the post today and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I created a range of spot illustrations and hand written font for them, and my favourite is above - a trophy for the RSPCA heroes!

I've sorted out the studio, given it a good clean and tidy and put up lots of really inspiring pictures and it's such a lovely place to work now. I am now just lusting after a nice big piece of oilcloth to cover my desk with and a proper desk lamp!

I'm creating a visitors guide to a beautiful garden in Essex today, and then off to see some exhibitions in London tomorrow: the Magnificent Maps exhibition at the British Library, the Sanderson exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum and the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL with sketchbook in hand, I'm really looking forward to it x

I Heart Cake (Yum!)

2010-05-07T09:09:00.000+01:00

Here's a recent branding project for cake company "I Heart Cake" based in South Wales. Owner Caroline was looking for a delicate hand-drawn logo for her business stationary, packaging and website.

Obviously lots of cakes had to be consumed in order to inspire these designs which were lots of fun to create - here's the final designs...

Here's some of the other ideas I came up with and I wanted to share them with you here...