New British Council pics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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