Thursday & friday @ Open Studios

Made in Clerkenwell

2 buildings +100 designers = the ultimate shopping treat!

Today and tomorrow I am working at Craft Central to help at their winter open studios. Designer makers in both of the Clerkenwell buildings are opening their studio doors to the public.
A great change to pick up some lovely hand-crafted crimbo presents, as well as a lot of inspiration!

Click on the flyer for more info.

I'll blog as the event goes on, hopefully with some pics!

Flamingo Magazine issue #2

Here are some illustrations of mine published in the 2nd issue of Flamingo magazine.
I even made it into the O of the cover, which was a nice surprise!

Pulborough Brooks

Whilst at Glastonbury back in June, I signed up to become a member of the RSPB. It seemed like a good idea at the time, as they were offering a free 'great tits' t-shirt with every sign up.

Today I used my membership for the first time, and got free entry to Pulborough Brooks nature reserve. It was a lovely sunny day, and although I didn't see much nature apart from a few cows, it was nice go on a long walk and then put the calories back on in the cafe!

Power of Making

I know this exhibition is on until the new year, but I couldn't wait to go! Small, but packed with all sorts of mind blowing crafts. As per usual, my favourites tended to be anything that was tiny or detailed, or on a huge scale. A couple of examples...

I'd seen Dalton Ghetti's pencil tip art on blogs before, but seeing the tiny sculptures in real life was amazing. The patience and skill behind each piece is incredible, some pencils taking him years to sculpt. You can see his 'Alphabet' (top) in the exhibition, but for more go on his website.



Chistien Meindertsma's giant 'Arun Rug'

I won't give anything else away, as you NEED to go!

the London art book fair 2011

This weekend was the annual London art book fair, always a favourite event of mine, guaranteed to give me lots of inspiration and make me want to spend too much money.

This years favourites included book art from Andy Malone. I think he is a lecturer at one of the Kent UCA campuses (I should have talked to him really!) and the only examples I can find of his work are on the LMNOP shop website. He collects small observers books, mostly nature related, and cuts around the images on each page.

I haven't made any books for so long, having a few withdrawal symptoms!

One Week Boutique

Tonight myself and Michelle, went to the Private View of One Week Boutique, part of The London Design Festival. Only a small pop-up shop in Craft Central's showcase, but a few lovely things to look at/buy whilst eating sushi and drinking wine.
My two favourites of the boutique were jewellery from Anne Bowes. Beautiful, delicate necklaces with adorable charms such as acorns and scottie dogs - a hit with both me and Michelle!
As well as prints from textile designer Amy Hutchings. She had some lovely prints of boats, but I also love her birds and foxes. I wish I could have bought one.

graduation

This week I graduated! I am extremely happy to say I now have a First Class honours degree in Graphic Design. For something a little different I edited some of my favourite photos using Photoshop actions from WishWishWish.

Song Sparrow

Here is the A3 illustration I submitted for the Salon Hang at Long Live the Art School.
In fact I drew two different versions, one with black line twigs and one brown. I chose the black for the exhibition in the end.



Both illustrations are hand-drawn with pen and pencil on A3 320gsm handmade cotton rag paper.

The Menagerie

Last month myself and Sam popped to a small exhibition called The Menagerie - a group show of drawing and printwork by Fran Giffard, Izzie Klingels, Ella Johnston and Susie Wright.

All work was was inspired by nature (hence why I wanted to go) and there were some amazing examples of beautiful British illustration, by all four artists. I loved it all!
Some of the detail that has gone into these pencil sketches and prints are incredible, as an illustrator, this is something I definitely aspire to do!





The exhibition space itself was a little strange, and we did at times wonder if we were in the right place. It was in the basement of a hotel, in a dining hall! But nonetheless we had a quick wonder round the amazing work on the walls.

The exhibition is no longer on, however links to the artists websites are above.

Eat Me Magazine

Here are a couple of illustrations that I did for Eat Me Magazine's fifth issue, back in April.


The article was about the traditional English pub (Midsomer Murder's style) being taken over by young, kitsch-y, Cath Kidston wearing families.

glasto 2011

I am back from Glastonbury! A fun filled week of mud, music, food, drink, more mud, rain, sun, craft and friends.
  

Graduate show!

I cannot believe it is already time for my graduate show! It is this Friday and Saturday at Redchurch Street Gallery, London.
I am part of the curation team, so I have been working extremely hard getting everything together, and I am so proud and excited! It is looking really good, just in time for the industry private view tomorrow evening.