Teresa Robertson, illustrator

2012-01-26T14:58:00.000Z

This is a pic I did for FJH publishers as a music vignette and which I submitted as original artwork to this exhibition at the Illustration Cupboard: http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/exhibition_details.aspx?eId=178&ePage=0 It's called 'Celebrating Asylum' and is to raise funds for St Mary Magdalene Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. This small London-based charity offers some of the capital’s most vulnerable people a safe place in which to meet and study, working with refugees from countries as far apart as Eritrea and Turkey, Albania and Congo, Kosovo and Syria. I've been involved with it for a number of years and think it does wonderful work. Artworks have been donated by Jane Ray, Axel Sheffler, Chris Riddell and many other wonderful illustrators and all the proceeds will go to helping the Centre.

New music vignettes

2012-01-12T08:55:00.000Z

Just a few of the 38 vignettes I finished the other day for FJH publishers in the US. I received the brief for the 9th book to work on for them this morning.

Unicef Pictures

2012-01-09T10:36:00.000Z

A few of a batch I completed over the Christmas holidays for worksheets for Unicef, showing sports in UK and Africa.

New FJH music vignettes

2011-12-31T11:14:00.000Z

Just a few vignettes from the book I finished for FJH just before Christmas. Am working on the next one (the 7th) at the moment...

Christmas house paintings

2011-12-26T19:58:00.000Z

Three 'house paintings' that will have been revealed on Christmas morning. The top one was commissioned by the daughter for her parents and brother, the middle one for the husband and the bottom one for the wife.

Highbury Christmas Cards

2011-12-19T10:38:00.000Z

I designed these as fundraisers for my local church and primary school. The top two show Christ Church in Highbury and the bottom one St John's School, Highbury Vale. I printed 1,000 altogether and they all sold except for enough of the St John's for me to send to my own family and friends. 30p from each card is going to Christ Church who are raising funds at the moment for their homeless shelter which gives meals and beds for 12 guests every Friday night for January, February and March.

China World Map

2011-12-11T08:29:00.001Z

I didn't know that other countries had different world maps till I had to illustrate 'how do I view the world' for the British Council. This map is based on the world map used in China...

Hampstead House

2011-11-03T12:16:00.002Z

American house painting

2011-10-25T10:11:00.001+01:00

I painted this picture of Carolyn's childhood home in South Carolina from a tiny photo. I prefer taking the reference myself but distance and 30 year time difference (the house is now surrounded by trees and fence) didn't allow for that...

New British Council pics

2011-10-21T22:33:00.000+01:00

House and 3 cats

2011-10-12T10:17:00.000+01:00

Interior and exterior of a client's flat

2011-10-10T17:13:00.000+01:00

Top Drawer

2011-09-15T07:14:00.000+01:00

Am just surfacing from 3 days at Olympia showing my new 'dance' range of cards. In between the busy periods, had a lovely time chatting to Rosie of Rosie Wonders, Vicky of Clear Creations and my 'stand-mate' Cressida of Cressida Bell.

Two birthday house commissions

2011-08-03T10:09:00.000+01:00

The top picture was commissioned for a dad's birthday by his wife. The lower three pics were commissioned by a young woman for her boyfriend's birthday.

So Tiny London shop publicity

2011-08-02T20:59:00.000+01:00

Another commission from Emma at So Tiny London - this time a postcard showing some of their best sellers. My next job for them is to design a map showing their location...

More Houses...

2011-07-14T18:05:00.000+01:00

I've done these in the last couple of weeks. The top one is for a young couple returning to Brooklyn and wanting to remember their lovely little coach house in Highbury, the next one was for the husband's birthday and the last one is for a couple moving from a house they've been in for 30 years. The son commissioned it for them.

Highbury Houses

2011-07-08T07:56:00.004+01:00

The top one here was won at a fundraising auction for the Red Cross and I offered to paint someone's house in an hour. This took more like two hours, but it was helpful to aim to work really quickly. I handed the next one over last week to a family who are moving out of London and handed the last one a couple of days ago to a family who live just round the corner. Have a chart on the wall now with list of house paintings to do and when they're due (must be the time of year).

5 house paintings in one go!

2011-07-01T06:44:00.000+01:00

These houses and cars were commissioned by a lovely woman for her husband's birthday (they own the houses and cars). The commission came through http://www.wemakelondon.co.uk/ before the pop-up shop that I'm part of this summer had opened. It opens on Saturday 2nd July (private view from 6.00 til 9.00) and runs till 9th July at Oak Studios, Perrins Court, Hampstead (very near the tube). Come along!

New card designs

2011-06-04T08:36:00.000+01:00

I've been working long hours but because my studio's at home, I don't mind. I can still chat to the family and they have to do the dinner. I showed my cards at PG Live two weeks ago, sharing with Gaya of Gaya cards, and we're doing Pulse this weekend. I'm working on screenprinted images for a tea towel and cake tins for Jamie Oliver's Jme range and just finished 14 vignettes for FJH music publisher's for their Christmas Carol's book. Here are some of my newest cards...

New vignettes

2011-06-04T08:27:00.000+01:00

Portrait of Naomi

2011-05-22T09:38:00.000+01:00

Naomi's Mum, Emma, owns the delightful shop So Tiny London and Naomi has a good idea for choosing some of the fun things stocked there. http://www.showroom64.com/

More FJH pics

2011-04-27T21:39:00.000+01:00

A few of the vignettes I've just completed for the US music publisher, FJH.

Headmaster's Leaving Present

2011-04-02T23:51:00.000+01:00

Mr Ward is leaving St John's Highbury Vale primary school after being head for the past 13 years. This painting was commissioned by the Governor's and presented at the Governor's leaving 'do'

New FJH work

2011-03-24T17:06:00.000Z

Three pics of the 56 vignettes I've just sent off to FJH (US) publishers for another piano lesson music book.

New House Paintings

2011-03-18T23:27:00.000Z

Who finds it difficult to go to school?

2011-02-10T10:19:00.000Z

One of the latest batch of pics for the British Council...

Shop Painting

2011-02-01T08:10:00.000Z

Emma Norden commissioned this for her delightful shop at 64 Great Titchfield Street: http://www.showroom64.com/

Birthday Present House Painting

2011-01-17T19:03:00.000Z

This was a surprise present from the husband and 3 sons to his wife.

Two new British Council pics

2010-12-27T10:33:00.001Z

These are just two from the latest batch I've been working on. The second picture is meant to show a child from each of the 20 countries involved in the British Council school partnerships.

Recent Commissions

2010-12-27T10:09:00.000Z

The first of this batch is to hang in the headmistress's study at the Gower School in Barnsbury, Islington and the rest were Christmas and Winter birthday presents. I was painting until 23rd Dec, making sure deadlines met. My husband John mounts and frames pics if people want that option.

House picture for family moving to India

2010-12-08T16:39:00.000Z

New British Council pics

2010-11-09T20:25:00.000Z

Two New House Paintings

2010-11-03T08:00:00.000Z

Both these houses are in Highgate and were commissioned to mark children going off to college.

New exterior and interior pictures

2010-10-14T10:35:00.000+01:00

The top picture was commissioned by my 93 year old mother's best friend for one of her grandsons and his family. The second picture was commissioned as a leaving present for a couple in Edinburgh.

Leaving Card

2010-10-14T10:26:00.001+01:00

Picture commissioned privately by staff members at British Council in Edinburgh for person leaving to go to Kenya.

Christmas Carol illustrations

2010-10-09T09:30:00.002+01:00

Examples of the next book of vignettes I've just completed for FJH publisher.

New Illustration Work

2010-08-28T09:16:00.003+01:00

Am working on a book teaching children to play piano, published by FJH (US publisher). Lovely job to do as has challenge of tiny spaces to fill - the pics all have to be vignettes, but with very varied subjects. The job came through the lovely agency Arena.

Pics for Unicef

2010-08-13T08:03:00.001+01:00

These are some of the pics I've just done for a worksheet commissioned by Unicef for nursery and reception children, trying to explain climate change.

New Card Designs

2010-08-02T15:15:00.000+01:00

New House Painting for Birthday

2010-07-23T09:42:00.000+01:00

Commissioned by Fran for her husband's birthday...

New House Painting

2010-07-20T15:25:00.000+01:00

This pic took longer than most as the family had scaffolding outside and skips and it was difficult to see the house until all that was cleared away.

Fritz Wegner

2010-07-08T18:33:00.000+01:00

I've put these pictures up because Fritz Wegner has always been one of my very favourite illustrators and I bumped into him again a couple of weeks ago. I first met him when I was sitting on my cards-and-house-paintings stall at Highgate Fair last year and he came up and was looking at my work so I asked if he was in 'Art' himself and he said he was an illustrator, so I gently said 'Can I ask your name?' and I nearly fell of my chair when he smiled and said Fritz Wegner. I love his brilliant drawing, line, colour and sense of humour...

More British Council pics

2010-07-08T11:06:00.001+01:00

Have just finished big job for the British Council of over 30 illustrations for their new online course on cultural cifferences between partnership schools. The course will be accessible to schools in the UK and countries in South America, the Caribbean, Africa, India and other countries in the Far East.

Icons of Osteopath Clinics

2010-07-08T10:53:00.002+01:00

The osteopath, Robin Kiashek, commissioned me to do little 'icons' of his two clinics, for use on his website and stationery etc. These were coloured in Photoshop, instead of the usual watercolour technique.

High Tea of Highgate painting

2010-07-01T11:46:00.000+01:00

Georgina commissioned this for her husband Ric for their wedding anniversary recently...

New British Council pics

2010-06-01T11:36:00.000+01:00

This pic is one of a new batch I'm working on for the British Council. It's a new online course for schools in the UK, South America, Africa and India, looking at how we are shaped by our culture...

Latest House Paintings

2010-05-21T11:47:00.002+01:00

New exteriors of, top, a cottage in Wiltshire; middle, the outside of the same house from the last blog entry; bottom, a house in Muswell Hill with extended family members....

New Interior Painting

2010-05-06T20:50:00.000+01:00

Penny Gunstone commissioned this after I put one of my fliers in the bag of cards she'd bought at All Saints Primary school fete a few weeks ago.

Charleston Farmhouse Kitchen Interior

2010-05-01T09:47:00.000+01:00

This is the picture I've done for this year's Quentin Follies - a fundraising event to keep artworks at Charleston House. The works of art for auction can be seen at Charleston from 1st May or at www.charleston.org.uk and bids can be made by phone or fax until 5pm on 10th July.

Pub House Painting

2010-04-06T11:28:00.003+01:00

A wedding present for my cousin Jane's son, Charlie and his wife Michelle. They've just celebrated their first wedding anniversary, but better late than never...

Illustrations for two lovely books written by Sarah Price

2010-04-03T08:58:00.004+01:00

Sarah Price commissioned me to do some black and white illustrations for various children's books she's writing...

2010-03-25T23:01:00.001Z

Handed over my latest 'house painting' commission the other day - for Nicola Baird and Pete May - neighbours with one of the lowest carbon footprints in London....

Updating Website

2010-03-19T09:32:00.006Z

Joe Field updated my website yesterday so the 'book illustrations' section has the same format as the other sections. In return I look after his daughter and dog when needed. The practice I learned most from on my MA was filling sketchbooks with drawings from life - vital for anyone wanting to illustrate!

Putney House painting

2010-02-24T12:53:00.004Z

This was commissioned by friends of a couple who's house I painted at Christmas. They've gone back to Australia and wanted a memento of our memorably cold winters!

I had a worrying day or so when the couple emailed to say they hadn't received it, two weeks after posting, but it's now been found in the husband's workplace mailroom so I won't have to paint it again.

2010-02-08T18:58:00.002Z

This row of houses in John Street, Bloomsbury, was commissioned by Charlotte Moerman as a reminder of the first flat she and her husband lived in as they are just about to move out of London, with the addition now of 3 sons.

New Valentine and Moving Home Cards

2010-01-08T17:42:00.002Z

I had to design a 'moving home' card for my mother when she moved to the house next door to the one she'd been in for 50 years. The two shown here are less specific to one person. The 'I adore you' valentine has become my fastest seller on Folksy, so far. Folksy and Etsy work well to showcase work, but I couldn't rely on income from them yet. Selling through shops and craft fairs is how I make a living.

Christmas House Paintings

2009-12-30T10:04:00.004Z

These were all commissioned as presents for family members for Christmas. In the first one, I 'added' the husband as it was a surprise present for him. The couple are planning to return to Australia so this will be a memento for them. The middle two were commissioned by the mother of two sisters and I took the reference with the families there. The last one was a surprise from a husband to his wife and he asked for one son to be in his Batman suit and the other to be in the Welsh rugby kit.

Open Studio and Bartering

2009-12-13T20:53:00.007Z

On 9th and 10th Dec I had 'Open Studio' with mulled wine and mince pies and the lovely Georgina Worthington of High Tea of Highgate provided mouth-watering cupcakes. In return I made a batch of cards for her. A similar 'barter' system works with Carol of Louis Farouk. Like High Tea, she stocks my cards, and if I need a necklace we can do swops to the same value. Carol and I took a couple of tables on Friday afternoon (11th) at Thornhill Primary School Xmas Fair and had fun selling our wares and chatting to the kids and parents at a very happy-seeming school.

The Mangle Xmas Sale

2009-12-13T20:32:00.006Z

I spent Saturday sitting on the balcony of The Tab Centre (designed by wonderful Matthew Lloyd architects...) selling my cards and showing examples of house paintings. Couldn't resist peeping over the balcony at the crowds just below me, though, waiting to buy Rob Ryan's iconic tiles and wrapping paper, all being sold for a fiver each. People did come upstairs, but none of the rest of us could quite say we had queues waiting to pay, just about all day... I'd been told about the sale by Kim Jenkins of Little Bird, who I was put next to at Top Drawer in September. She makes beautiful hot foil press cards and prints and can be found at Broadway Market every Saturday. As well as my own work, I was selling my 18yr old son Leo's prints and comics that day. Above is an example of Leo's current favourite print...

New card designs - transport

2009-12-08T10:29:00.003Z

Most of my card designs come about through requests from shops: the red bus was asked for by Route 73, so I've printed one with 73 on, as well as now 1 and 19...

Cottage Painting

2009-12-08T09:56:00.004Z

This was commissioned by a group of Highbury friends for Phil (far right) as a surprise present for his 40th birthday. I usually take the reference for pictures myself, but time and distance meant this was done from pics and information supplied by Phil's wife (such as where the hollyhocks grow in the warmer weather!)

Drama Club Poster

2009-11-04T09:45:00.003Z

My friend Lulu runs these fun classes for kids at Christ Church, Highbury. If you live in the area and have an 8 to 11 year old interested in drama - give her a ring! (see poster for details)

Anniversary Commission

2009-11-04T09:27:00.004Z

This 'house painting' was commissioned by a young man as an anniversary present for his wife. I took the reference quickly while she wasn't in and while the sun was out. The next door neighbour spotted me so I told her it was a surprise present, so not to spoil the surprise...

New House Paintings

2009-11-04T09:20:00.004Z

When I was at Highgate Craft Fair with my cards, back in June 09, I had a bit of space on my table and put out folders showing my house paintings. Five people ended up commissioning me from that, one of whom was this family. The mum was running a stall opposite me and the children came up to chat and ended up persuading their Dad to have their house 'done'. It's ready for pick up now. I always jpeg the pencil stage over to the client for approval first, do any necessary tweaks, then take to either pen and colour, or crayon and colour. This painting is that second option.

Plastic Bags Free Day!

2009-08-25T10:11:00.003+01:00

This poster will be put up in the shops at Highbury Barn to raise awareness of the national Plastic Bags Free campaign,

www.abolishplasticbags.org.uk

Pics for Animated Film

2009-08-22T12:56:00.005+01:00

These are three pics from a film being made for Suffolk County Council. The animation will be shown to care home residents, encouraging them to say 'NO!' if they are being abused...

2nd New York Painting

2009-07-13T09:30:00.004+01:00

And this is the garden one (obviously!) I took the whole family with me - husband and 3 sons, 20, 17 and 15, and we all had an amazing time accessing New York in different ways.

Paintings in New York

2009-07-13T09:12:00.004+01:00

We got back on Wednesday from the house in Brooklyn, New York, that I painted last October and that the kind owner then offered us to stay in while she came to stay in our house. Before we arrived, Carolyn commissioned me to do two more paintings for her - one of her 3 cats, and the other of her garden. The beautiful white cat was extremely elusive - I only caught flashes of her running up stairs for the first 8 days, then, on day 10 she suddenly seemed to think I was OK and I got to have a good look at her.

New commission

2009-06-04T09:17:00.008+01:00

I've just finished this commission. Nancy and Angus were completely delightful - showing me all their toys and choosing what to have in the painting (a 40th birthday present for their dad from their mum).

Patrick Robertson

2009-04-19T09:44:00.002+01:00

I painted this a few years ago, when I was practising doing watercolour portraits. It's of my father, Patrick, who died on 9th April 2009 after complications following a stroke.

He designed sets for nearly 200 plays and operas, mostly in the '60s, 70s and 80s - his best-known being The Cunning Little Vixen at Glyndebourne, Jumpers at the National and Turn of the Screw and Rigoletto at the ENO.

He taught me loads about painting, as well as sewing, knitting and cooking (a man ahead of his time) and everyone remembers him for his warmth, hugs and home-made wine. It's an honour to have been his daughter!

Protheroe boys

2009-04-19T08:28:00.003+01:00

A surprise birthday present from 'the demolition crew's mother (her phrase!) to the boys' father, end March 09

New Charleston Picture

2009-04-19T06:58:00.003+01:00

Last year I painted an exterior of Charleston House for the Charleston Fund (to raise money to keep artworks there). This time I've done an interior of Vanessa Bell's bedroom.

Last year's painting led to a commission from one of the bidders for a painting of her brownstone in New York (see earlier blog) and a lovely email correspondence. I am now putting new cupboards in my kitchen and generally dragging house up from complete scruff to more habitable because we're going to do a house swap this summer between our house in London and the one I painted in New York.

New Card Designs

2009-04-19T06:52:00.005+01:00

Illustrations for British Council Global Partnerships

2009-04-19T06:31:00.003+01:00

For most of March I worked on pictures for the British Council for an online course. This will be live soon and is aimed at teachers wanting to set up global school partnerships between schools in the UK and the developing world.

Doing Japanese Order

2009-01-29T10:40:00.001Z

The most popular cards at Top Drawer were these 'age cards', but without the ages, so just saying happy birthday + the image. The piles on the table show what the trusty workers John and Leo will be assembling (I do the printing and cutting).

Top Drawer Follow-Up

2009-01-29T10:33:00.001Z

This was home for 3 days last week and I got a badly swollen ankle from standing in it and not getting any exercise.

I was mad enough to say 'yes' to minimum orders and worried if I'd cover my costs when people ordered in 2s and 3s. Thanks to sterling crashing though, a Japanese buyer bought in 40s - which made the whole show viable.

The Fairy in the Potting Shed

2009-01-15T10:01:00.001Z

Have just received my free copy of The Fairy in the Potting Shed - a chapter book written by Lorna Uglow. I was commissioned to do one or two full colour pics for each chapter (8 chapters).

The book sat on a desk at Harper Collins for quite a while before Lorna took it upon herself to get it self-published. It's available on Amazon for anyone looking for presents for 10yr old girls!

Sylvie Field was the lovely model I used for Olivia. Thanks Sylvie!

Top Drawer Trade Fair

2008-12-31T16:20:00.001Z

I'm preparing for Top Drawer at the moment, which is on 18th - 20th Jan at Earl's Court One from 9.30 - 18.00 except the last day when it finishes at 17.00.

I'll be on stand H43. New cards will be children's age cards (see example) and more Valentines.

Charleston Farmhouse

2008-12-03T14:51:00.000Z

The painting that led to the New York Brownstone commission (see below)

New York Brownstone commission

2008-12-03T14:16:00.000Z

The finished New York brownstone. The owner of this house, Carolyn, commissioned me after buying a picture I'd done of Charleston in East Sussex.

Each June, artists donate works for the Charleston Fund to auction to raise money for the house and its art collection. I donated a watercolour painting of the house which Carolyn was interested in but, not being able to be there on the night itself, didn't win.

Luckily for both of us, Cressida Bell put us in touch with each other and I did another painting of Charleston for Carolyn (shown in entry above) which led to this second commission of her own home.

New House Painting

2008-11-26T23:05:00.000Z

The photo on the left has been sent by a client who'd like a painting of their brownstone in New York. I've had to more or less guess what the gate looks like behind the car. If/when the client approves the pencil rough, I'll take it to ink, then watercolour.

Christmas Craft Fairs

2008-11-20T08:37:00.000Z

Teresa and Barbora of Handmade in Highbury have their last stall this Christmas at Sutton House Christmas Fair, Sat 6th & 7th Dec, 11.00am - 5.00pm. Come and see us there!

Finished Happy Birthday + Cupcake Card

2008-11-19T11:44:00.000Z

Here's the card I started to cut last week then had to put on hold while I worked on other jobs. The design was requested by Carol at Louis Farouk (Highbury Park). I've been given most of my ideas for card designs through requests from shops.

Finished Charity Christmas Card

2008-11-17T10:23:00.000Z

This is the finished screenprinted Housing Justice card. We have developed a little family firm over the last few months with retired husband and 'home-educated' 17 year old helping out...

Housing Justice is 'the national voice of Christian action in the field of housing and homelessness', for more info on them, go to www.housingjustice.org.uk.

Finished House Painting

2008-11-13T16:13:00.000Z

This is a detail of the most recent 'house' painting (see pencilled stage in 7 Nov blog). I've jpegged it over to the client and will hand it over if/when they're happy with it.

Commissioned Christmas Card

2008-11-10T14:59:00.000Z

This photo shows the 2nd colour (sepia) having been printed on to the 1st colour (white with silver glitter sprinkled while ink wet). All my A6 cards, except ones with lettering, are produced in this way, 4 at a time. For the ones with lettering, I have to 'flip' the two that face the 'wrong' way and fit them into place with masking tape. The images shown here will be cut and stuck on to recycled card after the client has OK'd the sample.

Leaving Card - Adjusted

2008-11-10T14:51:00.000Z

Here is the final version of the three colour print.

Leaving Card

2008-11-10T13:20:00.000Z

This picture shows the papercut ready for the final layer of the card mentioned below. This was the 3rd colour - sepia - going on top of ochre (for the church) and red (for the clocktower). It was only at this stage I realised the top image would be in reverse, so I cut out the three layers and flipped them over and reprinted.

2008-11-08T09:44:00.000Z

This picture shows the pencil stage of a card I'm going to produce for someone leaving Christ Church in Highbury. The pencilling is on A4 paper folded in half and I'll cut through both layers. When I come to printing, I'll be able to print two images at a time on my A4 screen. I'll do a limited print run in three colours, ochre, sepia and red.

Commissioned Christmas Card

2008-11-07T10:30:00.000Z

Housing Justice have commissioned me to design their Christmas card. They've just emailed to say they've chosen the top right hand pencil as the design they would like (this is the second lot of roughs I'd done, edging closer to what was required - see roughs below). I will now trace it through on to 100gm good quality photocopy paper, thinking about how I'll separate into two colours...

(1.15pm) Have now done colour rough of how screenprinted image could look (shown above). Next stage will be to cut paper for the sepia colour layer, then trace through on light box to define areas that will be white (with glitter or gold dust sprinkled on). The blue will be the blue of the paper I print on...

New House Painting

2008-11-07T09:23:00.000Z

This is the latest 'house' painting that I'm working on. The Matthews family bid for it in a fundraising auction at St John's school, Highbury Vale, a couple of years ago. They wanted to wait until their youngest child (on the pillar, on the right) wasn't just a baby, so now I'm ready to work on the painting.

I emailed jpegs of the pencil stage (this photo shows a detail of just the family, the painting will include their house behind) to the family, adjusting proportions, expressions etc until all were happy with this stage.

I give people the choice of a painting with details picked out in crayon, or inked. The Matthews have gone for an inked version (the inked stage shown in the scan above). I spent most of yesterday doing this (my influences for this style were Carl Larsson and Herge).

New Birthday cupcake card

2008-11-07T09:00:00.000Z

This piece of A4, 100gm good quality photocopy paper has been folded in 4, then I've pencilled my new design on the top right hand corner section of the folded paper. The photo shows the first cuts having been made.

When I've finished cutting what will be the stencil for the first colour (pink), I'll put the paper on my light box and trace where I'll want the second colour (gold) to go on a 2nd piece of good quality photocopy paper, then cut that.

I'll photograph this stage later...